A nursing home in Arkansas was destroyed after being hit by a tornado on Friday night that was part of a severe storm weather pattern that was strung out over several states.
“A state of emergency has been issued after the roof collapsed on a nursing home with people inside the building, killing one person,” the Associated Press reported. “Five people had serious injuries, and a few others had minor ones … The nursing home has 86 beds.”
Craighead County Judge Marvin Day said that the tornado hit the Monette Manor nursing home at approximately 8:15 Central Time.
“It looks like it’s pretty much destroyed,” Craighead County Judge Marvin Day said. “It happens quick but apparently there was a little bit of time with tornado sirens going off.”
CONFIRMED: Monette Manor a nursing home in Monette, Arkansas took a direct hit by a very large tornado & collapsed with patients inside. Docs/RNs are pleading for help. pic.twitter.com/g3HDyYy7bX
— Ellen Bacca (@ellenbacca) December 11, 2021
The scene this morning at Monette Manor Nursing Home. #arwx pic.twitter.com/2XFv3Q1EI9
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) December 11, 2021
I almost didn’t post this. But this shows you first hand the scene at the Monette Arkansas Nursing home just moments after the #tornado impacted them. It’s hard stuff to watch but it’s the reality we face. #arwx pray for Monette and all the others impacted 🙏 pic.twitter.com/fj2iw3jKiH
— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) December 11, 2021
Inside the Monette Manor Nursing Home.
The hallways are flooded, the ceiling is caving and remnants of furniture and holiday decorations are scattered @ABC24Memphis pic.twitter.com/7B6Hsft4td
— Caitlin McCarthy (@news_caitlin) December 11, 2021
At least 30 tornadoes were reported throughout Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The largest tornado that struck the region tore through more than 220 miles in Kentucky.
Hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power, including 136,000+ in Tennessee, approximately 60,000 in Kentucky, 25,000+ in Arkansas, roughly 24,000 in Illinois, and nearly 10,000 in Missouri.
Some of the most devastating scenes included a collapsed Amazon warehouse and a candle factory that was destroyed with more than 100 people inside.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D)declared a state of emergency and requested that the Biden administration declare an emergency disaster for the state.
“One tornado struck the City of Mayfield which is reporting major damages to public facilities, businesses, and residences. It is reported that a Graves County factory has collapsed, trapping workers and we believe there are at least 50 fatalities,” Beshear said in a statement. “Debris covering emergency vehicle buildings has hampered search and rescue efforts. In Hopkins County, a train carrying hazardous materials has been derailed by a tornado. Vegetative and construction debris cover a multitude of county, state, and federal routes. At this point, at least 17 Kentucky counties have experienced tornadic activity and debris fields. The event is ongoing.”
More than 16 million Americans were subjected to tornado watches last night in nine states as the massive stormfront moved through America’s heartland.
AccuWeather reported:
The three-year average from 2018 to 2021 for tornadoes in December across the U.S. is 47, according to the SPC. Some Decembers are more active in terms of tornadoes compared to others. In 2018, there were 66 tornadoes reported, compared to just 18 in 2020.
AccuWeather meteorologists remain concerned that the risk of severe thunderstorms may extend as far north as southern Michigan and northern Ohio early Saturday. Following building warmth and humidity, the lid came off the atmosphere Friday evening as a cold front moved in from the west and lead to explosive thunderstorm development.
During a press conference, Beshear said that as the day progressed, people needed to brace themselves for “more tough news.”
“It has been one of the toughest nights in Kentucky history,” he said. “Some areas have been hit in ways that are hard to put into words.”