A strong tornado hit the town of Little Rock, Arkansas. Footage from local television stations showed uprooted trees, overturned vehicles and destroyed roofs. At least two people died and 24 were injured, officials said. About 90,000 people in Arkansas and 45,000 in Iowa were without power last night, according to the Poweroutage.us website.
Governor Sarah Sanders spoke of “significant damage” and sent in the National Guard to support local emergency services.
The tornado was part of a severe weather system that stretched from the southern United States to the Great Lakes region in the north. The National Weather Service announced an increased tornado risk for this area.
One week after deadly tornado in Mississippi and Alabama
A tornado killed at least 26 people in Mississippi and Alabama just a week ago. Yesterday, US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, visited the small town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, which was particularly hard hit by the tornado.
During the visit, the Bidens understood the destruction in the community and met with the city’s mayor and affected residents, among others. “You are not alone,” Biden said amid the rubble of destroyed homes and uprooted trees.
“The American people will stand by you. It will help you get through here – and so will I,” Biden promised. The president announced the opening of a local disaster center earlier in the week where affected residents could seek help.