(May 12, 2008)—Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is expected to survey damage in three southwest Missouri counties where a powerful tornado Saturday night killed 15 people.
Emergency officials say the tornado was approximately 300 yards wide with wind speeds up to 170 miles per hour.
It was on the ground for about 15 minutes, tearing a 12-mile-long path eastward, they said.
To the west, across the Oklahoma line, a tornado also smashed through the town of Picher, leaving at least six dead and about 150 injured.
Once a boomtown of about 20,000, Picher's population had dwindled to about 800 after waste from lead and zinc mines turned the area into an environmental disaster and Superfund site.
A joint state and federal disaster team is making a preliminary damage assessment Monday, but the head of the local housing authority says this could be it for the town.
John Sparkman said, “There's just nothing to build back to any more" and the people "probably have had enough."
Save
Email
Print
0 comments
Terms of Use -
Privacy Policy -
EEO Statement
-
FCC Form 388