At least four dead as violent storms sweep central US: Man’s trailer home is blown into a pond and tornado hits a woman’s house as high winds, heavy rain and hail cause chaos
An elderly man and an elderly woman have died from severe storms and a tornado, while another man has died after his vehicle submerged
Henderson Fire Department recovered a body in a submerged vehicle in a ditch
Albert Foster, 83, died in Arkansas and Dallas Jane Combs, 79, died in Kentucky
Foster’s trailer home was blown into a pond and a tornado hit Combs’ home
Storm-related damage also was reported in Middle Tennessee, Nashville
The weather service said record flooding was occurring along the Kankakee
MICHELLE GANNEY
DAILYMAIL.COM
25 February 2018
At least four people have died after a strong storm and possible tornadoes pushed its way eastward through central United States.
An 83-year-old man, Albert Foster, in northeast Arkansas and a 79-year-old woman, Dallas Jane Combs, in south central Kentucky were both killed as the storm that also included heavy winds, rain and hail muscled its way through the area, authorities reported.
Another man died after his vehicle submerged in Simpson County and early Sunday morning, the Henderson Fire Department in Kentucky recovered a body in a submerged vehicle in a ditch.
The elderly man from Arkansas was killed Saturday night after high winds toppled a trailer home and it was blown into a pond, Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller told KAIT-TV.
About 50 miles away, the weather service said the roof was blown off of a hotel in Osceola, about 160 miles north of Memphis, Tennessee.
In south central Kentucky, Combs died after a suspected tornado hit her Adairville home on Saturday evening, Logan County Sheriff’s Department told television station WKRN.
Sheriff officials said Combs was inside the home when it collapsed on her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities say Combs’ husband was outside the house when the unconfirmed tornado hit and he sustained minor injuries.
Storm-related damage also was reported in Middle Tennessee, where Fox17 in Nashville reported extensive damage to homes and vehicles.
They said at least a dozen homes were damaged in one Montgomery County subdivision.
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order earlier Saturday declaring a state of emergency ahead of the anticipated storms and flooding in parts of southern Missouri.
The order activates the resources of the Missouri National Guard and ensures state resources are available in the event of weather damage.
A levee breach along the Kankakee River in northwestern Indiana had local officials urging about 30 homeowners to evacuate.
Keener Township Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Woods said the breach was relatively minor when it was discovered about 3 p.m. Friday near Demotte, about 50 miles southeast of Chicago.
Local residents tried to sandbag the breach ‘to get it under control, but it just got bigger and bigger,’ he said. Local firefighters were called to help them, but eventually everyone had to pull out for their own safety.
No injuries were reported.
The weather service said record flooding was occurring along the Kankakee following several days of heavy rains and snowmelt that sent streams out of their banks from the Ohio River to Michigan and Wisconsin.
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