A dangerous scene played out northwest of Little Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday night when a massive tornado slammed Mayflower and Vilonia, demolishing homes and tossing cars like toys.
The tornado touched down Sunday about 10 miles west of Little Rock at around 7 p.m., then carved an 80-mile path of destruction as it passed through or near several suburbs north of the state capital, including Vilonia. It grew to be a half-mile wide and remained on the ground for much of that route, authorities said.
The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management confirmed at least 16 deaths from the tornado – 10 in Faulkner County, five in Pulaski County and one in White County.
In Faulkner County, sheriff Andy Shock told the Associated Press there is "utter devastation," and that family members are searching for missing relatives. Shock said there is widespread confusion and a medical triage area had to be opened in a Mayflower home-improvement store's parking lot to treat the injured.
The American Red Cross has opened two emergency shelters and is supporting four community shelters for residents displaced by tornadoes in three Arkansas counties. The tornado that hit Arkansas didn't form until night was setting in, so the full extent of the damage won't be known until after sunrise Monday.
Storm chasers were on the scene shortly after, and Brett Adair told The Weather Channel that they assisted injured residents in nearby communities affected by the tornado. After hitting Mayflower, the tornado also left severe damage in Vilonia and El Paso.
"It was like a war zone," said Tom Marsh, who was in Vilonia when the tornado hit the town.
Among the ruins was a new $14 million intermediate school that was set to open this fall.
"There's just really nothing there anymore. We're probably going to have to start all over again," Vilonia Schools Superintendent Frank Mitchell said after surveying what was left of the building.
Matt DeCample, a spokesperson for Gov. Mike Beebe, told the AP that the tornado was at least a half-mile wide when it slammed Vilonia. Three years ago, this central Arkansas city of just over 3,800 was hit by a tornado that killed four people on April 25, 2011.
Karla Ault, a Vilonia High School volleyball coach, said she sheltered in the school gymnasium as the storm approached. After it passed, her husband told her their home had been reduced to the slab on which it had sat.
"I'm just kind of numb. It's just shock that you lost everything. You don't understand everything you have until you realize that all I've got now is just what I have on," Ault said.
Credit to Weather.com
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