ST. LOUIS— Five people died and five were injured Wednesday following a suspected tornado in Bollinger County, according to authorities.  

What You Need To Know

  • At least five people are dead and others injured after a suspected tornado hit Bollinger County, Mo.

  • The National Weather Service surveyed the damage and believes it is consistent with a high end EF2 tornado

  • A fire station and a post office in the rural town of Glenallen, Mo. were hit

  • Photo Gallery: Missouri tornado leaves widespread damage

The Bollinger County Sheriff said the hardest hit areas were Glenallen and Grassy, about 2 hours south of St. Louis near Cape Girardeau, Mo. They say there are injuries and fatalities and would provide more information later. 

Gov. Mike Parson joined emergency responders on the ground to assess the damage Wednesday afternoon followed by a news conference. He has also issued an emergency order activating the state emergency operations plan and the Missouri National Guard to help with the response.

Additionally, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley will tour the tornado damage in Marble Hill, Mo., and Glenallen, Mo., meet with those affected by the tornado, and attend a prayer vigil planned for Wednesday evening. 

According to the White House, the President spoke with Gov. Parson Wednesday night regarding the severe weather storms impacting the state. President Biden emphasized the Administration’s commitment to providing resources to respond to immediate needs and long-term rebuilding.

The National Weather Service of Paducah said the damage is consistent with an EF2 tornado, but they have not officially declared the strength of the tornado as of now. 

“A tornado definitely touched down, there is damage to homes. We know that there have been people injured, but we don’t know the extent or if there are fatalities," said meteorologist Justin Gibbs with the weather service in Paducah, Kentucky.

A fire station in Glenallen is reportedly destroyed according to the Bismark Fire Protection District's Facebook page. A Facebook user shared a picture showing fire trucks in the middle of a damaged building.

First responders across Missouri are heading to Bollinger County to assist with the response. Pattonville Fire Protection District and University City are among agencies from across the state sending people to help. 

A phone weather alert awakened Bobby Masters, who said debris was slamming his Glenallen home as he took shelter in his basement with his family. He recalled hearing a roar as the tornado passed.

“I had never heard a tornado before. They say it sounds like a freight train and that is exactly what it sounds like,” he said, adding: “The good Lord spared us, our family and our house.”

 


The storms threatened a region that includes portions of the country still reeling from deadly weekend weather. The Storm Prediction Center said up to 40 million people from Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit to Memphis, Tennessee, were at risk for storms later Wednesday, with the greatest threat from lower Michigan, across the middle to lower Ohio River valley and into the mid-South.

Over the weekend, possibly dozens of tornadoes killed at least 32 people days ago, meaning more potential misery for those whose homes were destroyed in Arkansas, Iowa and Illinois.

At least two tornadoes were confirmed Tuesday in Illinois as storms targeted the state and eastern Iowa and southwest Wisconsin before nightfall.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings in Iowa and Illinois on Tuesday evening and said a confirmed twister was spotted southwest of Chicago near Bryant, Illinois. Officials said another tornado touched down Tuesday morning in the western Illinois community of Colona. Local news reports showed wind damage to some businesses there.

Earlier Tuesday, strong thunderstorms swept through the Quad Cities area of Iowa and Illinois with winds up to 90 mph and baseball-size hail. No injuries were reported, but trees were downed and some businesses were damaged in Moline, Illinois.