my hometown have tornado you have one?

sara1981

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i watch on news about my hometown have tornado in Duma,Arkansas but im lives in North Little Rock,Ar so Duma,Ar near by Pine Bluff,Ar what horribles for Arkansas natives and my family but thankness godness my family not lives in Duma,Ar so my mom's family lives in Morrilton,Ar

Possible tornado shreds Arkansas stores, homes
Possible tornado shreds Arkansas stores, homes - CNN.com

DUMAS, Arkansas (CNN) -- A possible tornado shredded several businesses and homes in a small Arkansas town Saturday, injuring about a dozen people, some of them seriously, police told a local TV station.

Bobbie Thomas, an employee at Fred's department store in Dumas, told CNN affiliate KTHV she was inside the building when the winds struck.

"We all got on the floor," she said. "All the debris was falling on us ... and I said, 'Lord, all I want you to do is save us today, because it's in your hands.'" (Watch buildings that have been turned to splinters, cars crushed )

Fred's was among several buildings destroyed by the storm, the station reported. The National Weather Service reported that parts of cars were hanging in trees in the storm zone.

Police have arrested four people suspected of looting, KTHV reported, and an overnight curfew was in effect.

There were no reports of fatalities, but about a dozen people were reported injured, some seriously, Arkansas State Police Cpl. Ray Siggers told KTHV.

James Robinson of Winchester told The Associated Press he saw a black cloud approaching and pulled into a McDonald's parking lot.

"It sounded just like a locomotive train, not real fast," Robinson told AP. He said he helped a woman into the restaurant, and then hid in the walk-in freezer, according to AP.

Damage from possible tornadoes was also reported in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The National Weather Service said damage that occurred early Saturday in Bossier City, Louisiana, was consistent with an EF-1 type tornado under the new Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale for rating twister damage.

Wind speeds were estimated between 90 and 100 mph.

Several Dumas restaurants, a Mad Butcher grocery store and some nearby homes were leveled, KTHV reported. Video from the scene showed several buildings rendered nearly unrecognizable. A sign for a street located a mile away was lying in the grocery store parking lot.

The Salvation Army, the Red Cross and a local Mennonite chapter was helping residents whose homes were damaged.

The storm also overturned a tractor-trailer in a store parking lot and destroyed an electricity substation, which knocked out power to the area, AP reported.


The National Weather Service said it had received a report that parts of cars were hanging in trees north of Dumas along U.S. 65. The possible tornado struck just before 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET). (NWS storm reports from past three hours)

Police said they were making a door-to-door search for victims, according to The Associated Press. Emergency crews called for ambulances from a nearby county, AP reported.

Dumas and the surrounding region is located in what experts call "tornado alley," a zone across the nation where twisters often form.

Damage from a possible tornado was also reported in Tichnor, in southern Arkansas County, just northwest of Dumas. Residents reported a tornado passed near the Tichnor post office, the National Weather Service said.

Severe storms with tornado threats were moving at least 60 mph, and stretched from northern Louisiana to Arkansas. The line of storms was heading into northwest Mississippi and toward southwest Tennessee.

Staff from the Arkansas Department of Emergency were en route to Desha County to assess damage and injuries, spokeswoman Tina Owens told CNN.

"Hopefully it's hit in an area where not too many people are affected," she said. Owens said the agency had only received reports of minor damage so far in the mostly rural area.

In Texas, dozens of grass fires were fueled by winds reaching 60 mph, AP reported. Flames destroyed three homes near Midland, and in Fort Hood fires prompted evacuations, authorities told AP. No injuries were reported.
 
Dozens Of Injuries Reported In Dumas Tornado
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Dumas Mayor Marion Gill says 27 people were injured in storms that swept through Dumas Saturday. Three people are in critical condition.

Mayor Gill says there are no reported fatalities.

Gill says the storms destroyed a number of business, including a factory that produced pet food. A Fred's discount store and a grocery store were destroyed by the tornado.

"It will be economically devastating. A lot of people will be out of work for a long time," said Gill.

Sheriff Jim Snyder says there was "extensive looting" after the storm. At least four people were reportedly arrested. The town has enacted a 6pm to 7am curfew.
 
Tornadoes Strike Southeast Arkansas
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

High winds, and possibly a series of tornadoes, sliced through southeastern Arkansas, destroying homes and buildings and injuring a number of people Saturday. Emergency crews summoned ambulances from a neighboring county.

A Fred's Dollar Store just south of Dumas was left in a tangle of twisted metal and crumbled concrete blocks, and an overturned tractor-trailer rested in its parking lot. Damage was reported in a five-mile-long, half-mile-wide swath to the south of the city.

James Robinson of Winchester says he pulled into a McDonalds parking lot in Dumas and ran from his car when he saw the black cloud coming.

Robinson says he helped a woman inside, and hid with others in the restaurant's walk-in freezer until the storm passed.

Robinson said, "It sounded just like a locomotive track, not real fast."

State police spokesman Bill Sadler says several people were injured, but he didn't know how many nor how seriously. Sadler says some residents were unaccounted for and police were making a door-to-door search.

Damage was also reported at Junction City and Urbana in Union County, and two people at Urbana were injured when their mobile home was blown away. A truck carrying wood chips was blown off US 82.

At Tichnor, the public reported that a tornado passed near the community's post office and caused damage in the community.

A power substation was destroyed and electricity was out in the area.

State police were setting up a command post in the town and seeking additional ambulance service from nearby Lincoln County. Troopers also closed the northbound lane of Highway 65 heading into the city.
 
Storm System Spawns Tornadoes
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Southeast Arkansas was hit hard on Saturday as a strong late Winter storm system moved across the state. Damage reports continue to come in from SE Arkansas.

Early Saturday morning a tornado watch was posted for most of the state. A few storms produced hail and strong winds, but damage was not widespread.

Shortly after 2pm, as the atmosphere over South Arkansas destablized, strong, rotating thunderstorms zipped across the southern border. Just before 3pm a violent tornado ripped through the town of Dumas in Desha county. Widespread damage and injuries have been reported from Dumas.

As of late Saturday evening, the severe weather threat has ended across the state.
 
Sara, I'm very sorry about the tornadoes that hit your home area. :(

We do have tornadoes in our area sometimes. Not often. We are under tornado watch right now.
 
I went through that in Chicago when I was only 17 years old with my father. It was a pretty scary experiences . Thanks to my dad driving back fast and have us safe home also by the prayers we had together. :bowdown: I lived an hour from Chicago. I am sorry to hear that it hit your home area. :( Big hugs to you.. :hug:
 
For the first time in my life, I was near a tornado in 2002 when a F3 hit College, Park MD. Never before in my life saw such a green and ominous looking sky! I was driving home from my job at Gallaudet on Route 1 going thru College park when I saw several police cars and emergency vehicles. I was puzzled so when I got home, I turned on the news. To my shock and horror, I realized that I was traveling on the same path as that tornado that killed 2 UofMD students. I was like :jaw:

Remmy, I grew up in AZ where we have no tornandos so it was a surreal experience for me.

Sara1981..sorry to hear about the twisters hitting your hometown area. Stay safe!
 
Sara, I'm very sorry about the tornadoes that hit your home area. :(

We do have tornadoes in our area sometimes. Not often. We are under tornado watch right now.

that okay

but Dumas,Ar near Pine Bluff,Ar my hometown but im lives in North Little Rock,Ar dont have torando very lucky phew! so in Dumas,Ar have damage everythings include hotels,restaurants,stores,works,etc! but cant fix this building but its too late so people who lives in Dumas,Ar my hometown hope will moves different city or not i dont know we have wait and see im pray for that

know that not easy and more nightmares for people and kids

i will post this news on updates about that
 
I've never seen a tornado but I've heard one once.

Years ago I was taking a bath and I noticed that hail was getting bad and then I heard something that sounded like a train. I wasn't wearing my HA at the time and the nearest track is 3 miles away.

I realized that this could be a tornado. They don't happen very often in Richmond but it's been known to happen.

I left the tub and ran to the cellar.

I've heard that it wrecked a few porches and trees but otherwise damage wasn't too bad.
 
At least it's good to know that you're safe...however, it's never good to see any place go through destruction by a tornado.

Over 4 years ago, a small twister went up a street that was less than one block away, missing where I was at the time, but did considerable damage to quite a few homes on that street, mainly tearing the roof-tops apart. Tornados can be a scary trauma especially for those who have survived them.

Thanks for all the updates and reports...and once again, good to know that you're doing fine and safe too. :)






~RR
 
Tornado has few different pesonalities: temper tantram which tores everything apart from the houses, car, trees and animals; become a monster; lion with grrrrrrrrr!
 
There are a lot of tornadoes in Texas where I'm originally from. One time, a tornado missed my family boat by 100 feet!

My dad decided to leave our family boat at the marina instead of in the garage. A tornado went through the marina and destroyed 1/3 of it. The whole marina consisted of 3 long docking slots holding about 50 boats each. Our boat was at the middle part and the tornado destroyed the end part... 1/3. Whew! We got lucky! Heh!
 
Dumas Destruction Seen By Air; A Third Of Businesses Destroyed
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

By air it's easy to see how devastating Saturday’s F-3 tornado was on the small town of Dumas. On the ground, the hard reality is setting in; things may never be the same.

"It's a disaster. There's nothing here," says Charles Shook.

One of Dumas' biggest employers, ARKAT, suffered major damage. The pet food manufacturer used to look like this and now much of it is twisted metal. Those who rely on the factory, like those who hall crops, say the factory being closed, even for a while, will be tough.

Shook, who’s a truck owner, says, “It'll cost us $20 to 30 thousand during the summer."

ARKAT isn't alone. Many businesses are either destroyed or severely damaged. Desha County Sheriff Jim Synder says 800 jobs in total are lost and there are ramblings not everyone will rebuild.

"We're encouraging our businesses to return and rebuild," he says.

Synder says with a third of the town's industry gone, rebuilding will take time.

"We're looking at a year before rebuilding can begin. It could be years before we start rebuilding," he says.

But the focus now is trying to find some level of normalcy. Restaurant owner Danny Powell is trying to help by cooking food.

"We felt there was need for is to come down [from Risen] and help these people out," he says.

Pine Bluff Police re helping with the meals, a sign Arkansan’s are once again coming together to take care of each other

"We all just help out each other. We help out one another," says Elena Trice, who received food.
 
Dumas Woman Finds Guardian Angel In The Storm
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Stories of generosity and good will often emerge in the time of disasters like Saturday’s tornado the destroyed parts of Dumas, Ark., but true acts of heroism are not too common.

Opal Thompson was working in her kitchen prior to the storm, unaware of the impending danger.

“I don’t really watch T.V., and I didn’t know the storm was coming,” Thompson said.

Opal was saved at the last moment by Brandy Lay, who rushed over from the house next door just as the tornado sirens sounded.

“I don’t know what made me think about it,” Lay said. “I just knew that she was alone and elderly and probably didn’t know how bad this was going to be.”

Opal, Brandy and her children hunkered down in the hallway just as the storm began.

“It was like a freight train on our house, and the rook just started peeling away,” she said.

Brandy’s home was decimated by the storm, but Opal’s home only suffered damage to her bedroom.

And in the kitchen where Opal was working before the storm, a lone picture on the wall was the only thing out of place.

“I guess the Lord was just watching out for me,” Opal said. “I have been very blessed.”
 
Dumas Damage Could Be In Millions; Watch Aerial Footage
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Surveying tornado damage Sunday, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter said it appeared "high explosives" destroyed a number of homes in Dumas.

Halter, serving as acting governor while Gov. Mike Beebe is out of state, said Desha County would be declared a disaster area. He estimated damage in the millions of dollars.

Police ended a door-to-door search accounting for everyone. Residents and relief workers toiled beneath clear skies to clean up damage from the twister, which destroyed a number of homes and businesses and knocked out electricity and telephone service.

Aerial footage of Dumas can be seen by clicking the THVideo icon.

Desha County Sheriff Jim Snyder said it may be three to five days before power could be restored. The storms also polluted the town's drinking water and residents were told to boil it before using the water.

The sheriff said weather forecasters told him Saturday's tornado that hit Dumas was an F-3, followed by a funnel cloud that did not touch down.

In all, he said, 40 people were injured in Desha County, including two children who were in critical condition Sunday at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
 
Dumas Residents Start Picking Up The Pieces
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

The skies cleared and the sun was shining Sunday on the storm-battered town of Dumas after Saturday’s heavy rains and powerful winds.

Randi Carter of the American Red Cross says about 30 people slept at the organization's shelter in a First Baptist Church in Dumas and the Red Cross was serving meals and checking on their health.

The calm after the storm allowed residents to start combing through the rubble.

"Thank God for miracles," Carter said of the nice weather Sunday.

Click the THVideo icon to watch a report from Dumas on the cleanup efforts Sunday.
 
Dumas Tornado: A Miracle At Fred's
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Just like where you live, Saturday is the day for people in Dumas to take run errands and take care of personal business. So when a tornado struck in the middle of the afternoon, many stores were full of shoppers.

Two women working at a Fred's Discount store found themselves in the middle of the storm with no place to turn.

The shopping center that housed Fred's and a grocery store bore the full brunt of the tornado. Bobbie Thomas was working there when the storm hit.

"I really didn't have time to be scared because it happened so fast," says Thomas. "I've never been in a storm, not this kind of storm, in my life."

Irene Mitchell was working at Fred's too, as the tornado approached.

"I said let's go to the storage room. Ms. Bobbie grabbed me and pulled me down to the floor and landed on top of me and everybody else landed on top of her and we just huddled their in the floor and everybody started praying," says Mitchell.

Thomas says, "I started crying out to God and said God this is in your hands and we want you to care of us today. As soon as I said that, it was like 12 or 15 minutes and it was all over. It was the grace of God that brought us out of there cause all the debris from the store had fallen on us."

Thomas and Mitchell suffered a few cuts and bruises, but escaped serious injury. That's despite the devastation that surrounded them.

"God was our umbrella. God was our umbrella. He's our source. He's our provider. He's everything. I really feel like shouting," said Thomas.
 
Looting Reported In Wake Of Tornado
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Dumas Mayor Marion Gill says the storms destroyed a number of business, including a factory that produced pet food. A Fred's discount store and a grocery store were destroyed by the tornado.

"It will be economically devastating. A lot of people will be out of work for a long time," said Gill.

Sheriff Jim Snyder says there was "extensive looting" after the storm. At least four people were reportedly arrested. The town has enacted a 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
 
Storm System Spawns Tornadoes
Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Southeast Arkansas was hit hard on Saturday as a strong late Winter storm system moved across the state. Damage reports continue to come in from southeast Arkansas.

Early Saturday morning, a Tornado Watch was posted for most of the state. A few storms produced hail and strong winds, but damage was not widespread.

Shortly after 2 p.m., as the atmosphere over South Arkansas destablized, strong, rotating thunderstorms zipped across the southern border. Just before 3 p.m., a violent tornado ripped through the town of Dumas in Desha County. Widespread damage and injuries have been reported from Dumas.

As of late Saturday evening, the severe weather threat ended across the state.
 
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