A powerful tornado that struck Jefferson City, Mo., Wednesday evening has left people stuck in their homes, according to police.
The tornado — the latest in a series of dangerous storms that have hit the region over the past week — was described by the Washington Post as a “wedge tornado.” The term means that the tornado was wider than it was tall. The storm traveled at 40 mph through the city and threw debris 13,000 ft. into the air.
Small portion of the damage in #JeffersonCity. At this hour, law enforcement says no deaths in Jefferson City but three dead in Golden City. pic.twitter.com/pgtQa4KXjr
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) May 23, 2019
“At this point, it’s too early to tell how large the scale of damage will be,” Jefferson City Police Lt. David Williams told reporters Thursday. “It’s a chaotic situation right now. We are trying to identify the people that need our help the most.”
The National Weather Service in St. Louis tweeted that a “violent tornado” in Jefferson City was confirmed at 11:47 p.m.
Police said that an estimated 20 people have been taken to hospitals after being injured. Although there have been no confirmed fatalities yet, a Jefferson City Police Department official told the Washington Post that the situation was dire.
[Previous coverage: At least 23 dead as tornadoes rip through Alabama]
#GOESEast got a close-up view of Wednesday night’s severe weather outbreak in Missouri. More than two dozen tornadoes were reported across Missouri and Oklahoma, including several that prompted #tornado emergencies. More: https://t.co/jVODsQPMxC pic.twitter.com/Bkcq4UvYhr
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) May 23, 2019
“I’m going to have to let you go,” she said, declining to provide further comment. “We’re handling life and death.”
According to authorities, thousands are out of power.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, shared the state buildings had suffered damage from the storm.
“We’re doing okay but praying for those that were caught in damage, some are still trapped,” Parson said on Twitter, adding that authorities “will continue to monitor and assist throughout the severe storms lasting until morning.”
Missouri and surrounding states have faced more than 60 tornado reports over the past week. Another tornado in Missouri on Wednesday took the lives of three people, according to police.
The tornado also struck the state the same day that 161 people were killed in a tornado in Joplin, Mo., in 2011.
