ST. LOUIS (AP) 鈥 Storm systems sweeping across parts of the Midwest and South have left at least 21 dead, including nine people killed after what appeared to be a devastating tornado in southeast Kentucky.
In Kentucky, some 14 people were killed by severe weather, and the death toll is likely to rise, according to Gov. Andy Beshear. Earlier, local authorities in Laurel County said nine people were killed after a tornado touched down in southeastern Kentucky, causing structures to crumble and even flipping over a car on I-75.
Laurel County resident Chris Cromer said he got the first of two tornado alerts on his phone around 11:30 p.m. or so, about a half-hour before the tornado struck. He and his wife grabbed their dog, jumped in their car and went to a relative's nearby home and got in a crawlspace.
鈥淲e could hear and feel the vibration of the tornado coming through,鈥 said Cromer, 46.
His home is intact, though a piece of the roof got ripped off and windows were broken. A house two doors down is destroyed, along with others in the Sunshine Hills neighborhood, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those things that you see on the news in other areas, and you feel bad for people 鈥 then, when it happens, it鈥檚 just surreal," he said, describing a landscape of destruction. "It makes you be thankful to be alive, really.鈥
Rescuers were 鈥渙n the ground all night looking for possible survivors," and the search was continuing into the morning, Sheriff's Office spokesperson Deputy Gilbert Acciardo. An emergency shelter was set up at a local high school and donations of food and other necessities were arriving.
The 好色tv Weather Service hadn't yet confirmed that a tornado struck, but meteorologist Philomon Geertson said it was likely. It ripped across the largely rural area and extended to the London Corbin Airport shortly before midnight.
鈥淟ives have been changed forever here tonight. This is a time we come together, and we pray for this community,鈥 London Mayor Randall Weddle told WKYT-TV. 鈥淚 have never personally witnessed what I鈥榲e witnessed here tonight.鈥
It鈥檚 the latest severe weather to cause deaths and widespread damage in Kentucky. Two months ago, at least 24 people died in a round of storms that swelled creeks and covered roads with water. Hundreds had to be rescued, and most of the deaths were caused by vehicles getting stuck in high water.
A storm in late 2021 spawned tornadoes that killed 81 people and leveled portions of towns in western Kentucky. The following summer, historic floodwaters inundated parts of eastern Kentucky, leaving dozens more dead.
Missouri pounded by storms, with deaths confirmed in St. Louis
The storms were part of a weather system Friday that killed seven in Missouri and also spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without power in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths in her city and said more than 5,000 homes were affected.
鈥淭his is truly, truly devastating,鈥 Spencer said. An overnight curfew was imposed Friday in the neighborhoods with the most damage.
The total number of people injured was not immediately known, but hospitals in the area reported receiving dozens of patients, with some in serious condition.
好色tv Weather Service radar indicated a likely tornado touched down between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. in Clayton, Missouri, in the St. Louis area. The apparent tornado touched down in the area of Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World鈥檚 Fair and Olympic Games the same year.
At Centennial Christian Church, City of St. Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told The Associated Press that three people had to be rescued after part of the church crumbled. One of those people died.
Stacy Clark said his mother-in-law, Patricia Penelton, died in the church. He described her as a very active church volunteer who had many roles, including being part of the choir.
John Randle, a 19-year-old University of Missouri-St. Louis student, said he and his girlfriend were at the St. Louis Art Museum during the storm and were hustled into the basement with about 150 other people.
"You could see the doors flying open, tree branches flying by and people running,鈥 he said. 鈥淎 lot of people were caught outside.鈥
Christy Childs, a Saint Louis Zoo spokesperson, said in a text that the zoo would remain closed Saturday because of downed trees and other damage. Childs said all animals were safe and that there were no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests or animals.
A tornado struck in Scott County, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of St. Louis, killing two people, injuring several others and destroying multiple homes, Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media.
Forecasters say severe weather could batter southern Plains
The 好色tv Weather Service鈥檚 Storm Prediction Center said on its website Saturday that severe thunderstorms, large hail and 鈥渁 couple of tornadoes鈥 were expected across the southern Plains, with especially high risk in north Texas.
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Contributing were Associated Press writers Haya Panjwani in Washington, D.C., Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, Julie Walker in New York and Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta.
