Death toll rises as severe storm wreak havoc in several states
In the South and Midwest of the United States, a string of tornadoes tore through villages and cities, killing at least 26 people.
Storms devastated several states, leaving thousands without electricity and destroying homes.
More than 60 claims of tornadoes have been made, according to the Washington Post.
The weather has caused deaths in a number of states, including Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Wynne, Arkansas, a community located about 100 miles (170 km) east of Little Rock, the state capitol, was decimated by one storm.
In a tiny restroom as a tornado passed, Ashley Macmillan claimed she, her husband, their kids, and their dogs were “praying and saying goodbye to each other, because we thought we were dead.”
They weren’t injured, but a falling tree severely destroyed their house.
We could feel the building trembling, and we could hear deafening sounds and dishes rattling, she told the AP news agency. Then everything just became quiet.
On Friday, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proclaimed an emergency in the state of Arkansas, activating the national guard to assist with relief efforts.
President Joe Biden offered government assistance in a conversation she claimed she had with him about the issue.
In Belvidere, Illinois, a crowded heavy metal concert was also affected by Friday’s storms when a theater ceiling collapsed, causing one fatality and 28 injuries.
Numerous states are experiencing massive power outages as cyclones make their way further east.
The worst impacted states, per the US PowerOutage website, are Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The Storm Prediction Center issued a warning stating that some of the expected tornadoes may travel over significant lengths on the ground.