How deadly was the tornado that hit the Southlands Mall?
MENA, Ark. — Authorities began a house-to-house search Friday for possible victims of tornado that struck a “direct hit” on this mountain community, killing at least three people, injuring at least 30 others and flattening homes and businesses. The twister descended quickly on the Ouachita Mountains town shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday after a series of sirens warned residents of tornadoes in the area. Polk County Sheriff Mike Oglesby said the sky turned green before the twister sliced through Mena. Rick Lanman, who manages the Mena Airport, said darkness fell quickly as the tornado crossed the Oklahoma border 10 miles away. “Me and the dog ran to the bathroom when we saw it on the TV,” Lanman said. “It was here in less than a minute.” Mena sirens sounded for earlier storms north and south of town. When they sounded a fourth time, “experience was telling me that we were in trouble,” said Lanman, who said he been through tornadoes before in Oklahoma and Illinois. Before first light Friday
The National Weather Service said at least five tornadoes swept through the metro Denver area Sunday afternoon, with one damaging a mall and a nearby community in southeast Aurora. The Weather Service said the tornado that damaged South lands Mall touched down south of Buckley Air Force Base at 1:49 p.m. and may have been on the ground for about 30 minutes, going on an 8- to 10-mile path across southeast Aurora. The other tornadoes were reported 6 miles east of Lafayette; one south of Bennett; one south of Deer Trail; and one north of Byers. The tornadoes brought with it heavy winds, a brief downpour of rain and pea-sized to baseball-sized hail. Witnesses say it started small and got bigger as it swept across Aurora, southeast of Denver. There may have been several confirmed tornadoes, but the main one hit at about 1:50 Sunday afternoon, about 5 miles south of Buckley Air Force Bass. Sources: http://www.
MENA, Ark. — Authorities began a house-to-house search Friday for possible victims of tornado that struck a “direct hit” on this mountain community, killing at least three people, injuring at least 30 others and flattening homes and businesses. The twister descended quickly on the Ouachita Mountains town shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday after a series of sirens warned residents of tornadoes in the area. Polk County Sheriff Mike Oglesby said the sky turned green before the twister sliced through Mena. Rick Lanman, who manages the Mena Airport, said darkness fell quickly as the tornado crossed the Oklahoma border 10 miles away. “Me and the dog ran to the bathroom when we saw it on the TV,” Lanman said. “It was here in less than a minute.” Mena sirens sounded for earlier storms north and south of town. When they sounded a fourth time, “experience was telling me that we were in trouble,” said Lanman, who said he been through tornadoes before in Oklahoma and Illinois. Before first light Friday
The National Weather Service said at least five tornadoes swept through the metro Denver area Sunday afternoon, with one damaging a mall and a nearby community in southeast Aurora. The Weather Service said the tornado that damaged South lands Mall touched down south of Buckley Air Force Base at 1:49 p.m. and may have been on the ground for about 30 minutes, going on an 8- to 10-mile path across southeast Aurora. The other tornadoes were reported 6 miles east of Lafayette; one south of Bennett; one south of Deer Trail; and one north of Byers. The tornadoes brought with it heavy winds, a brief downpour of rain and pea-sized to baseball-sized hail. Witnesses say it started small and got bigger as it swept across Aurora, southeast of Denver. There may have been several confirmed tornadoes, but the main one hit at about 1:50 Sunday afternoon, about 5 miles south of Buckley Air Force Bass.
