Deadly Storms and Tornadoes Claim Over 25 Lives in South-Central US

 A devastating series of storms and tornadoes has swept through the south-central United States, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming over 25 lives. The catastrophic weather event has overwhelmed communities and tested the region’s resilience.

The storms, fueled by a clash of warm and cold air masses, unleashed multiple tornadoes across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The deadliest twister, an EF-4 with winds exceeding 170 mph, tore through a rural Oklahoma town, flattening homes, schools, and businesses. At least 25 fatalities have been confirmed, with dozens injured and hundreds displaced. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble, with power outages affecting over 200,000 households. In Texas, flash flooding compounded the crisis, submerging roads and stranding residents. The National Weather Service issued rare “tornado emergency” alerts, urging immediate sheltering.

Emergency response teams, including FEMA and state national guards, have mobilized to provide aid, distributing food, water, and temporary shelters. President Joe Biden declared a federal disaster area, unlocking funds for recovery. The storms’ economic toll is estimated at billions, with insured losses alone projected to exceed $5 billion. 

Climate scientists link the event’s intensity to warming global temperatures, which increase atmospheric instability. Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of huddling in basements as homes collapsed above them. Community leaders are rallying volunteers for cleanup, but the scale of destruction suggests a long recovery. The tragedy has renewed calls for improved early-warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure, as the region braces for potential aftershocks.