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Deadly Tornado Hits Arkansas
Tornado Causes Widespread Damage and Fatalities
A catastrophic tornado struck west Little Rock on Friday, causing widespread damage and two fatalities in Wynne, Arkansas. However, there were no fatalities in the Little Rock tornado, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. confirmed. Many residents have been displaced across the city, and more than 61,500 power outages were reported in Pulaski County.
State of Emergency Declared
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order declaring an emergency in Arkansas, stating that they will spare no resource to assist with response and recovery efforts for those impacted.
Praise for First Responders
Sanders praised first responders in a news conference, stating that they have done an absolutely amazing job, and coordination with state and local officials has been a seamless process. Storm spotters tweeted images of a large tornado, and the National Weather Service reported a tornado warning for the Little Rock metropolitan area until 3:15 p.m.
Other Areas Affected
Parts of Arkansas, including Hot Springs, were also under a tornado warning. Additionally, Logan and Johnson counties were under a tornado watch as thunderstorms moved across portions of southwest and south central Arkansas. There was a slight chance of storms in the Arkansas River Valley, but only high winds were reported in Fort Smith.
Severe Weather Expected in the South
According to the National Weather Service, a large portion of the South, including Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, had chances of severe storms on Friday. Weather updates can be found on swtimes.com.
Credit: https://www.swtimes.com/story/weather/severe/2023/03/31/tornado-warning-issued-in-southwest-arkansas/70069196007/
