Oh mother nature, have mercy!
Twisters that roared across Kansas and Illinois today killed nearly 9 people, the Associated Press reported. The twisters also showed strength in Branson, Missouri; a place that attracts a lot of tourists and is rich with country music architecture.
Branson’s Mayor Raeanne Presley spoke on the incident saying:
“We were blessed with several things – the time of year and certainly the time of day, when people were not in their vehicles or outdoors. I think so many people from Branson went over to help in Joplin and having seen that, it was fresh on our minds. We all reached for our loved ones a little sooner and got to the basement a little faster.”
Meteorologist Rick Shanklin said the twisters were 200 yards wide with winds up to 170 mph.
As a result of the storm, hospitals, ship docks, theatres, and homes were destroyed.
In addition to the 9 that died, over 30 people were injured. Leaders in Branson, Missouri have urged businesses to stay up, arguing that any significant damage due to the twisters can be redeveloped in a matter of days.
Our condolences go out to the families of those who died and we hope that the areas affected recover successfully.
For more detail view the accompanying video and gallery.
