Claims News Service, Apr. 4, 9:50 a.m. EST — According to a recent report from Guy Carpenter, at least 28 people were killed and thousands of homes and businesses damaged as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms swept through eight states in the Midwest on April 2. The National Weather Service (NWS) estimated 63 tornadoes touched down in the region, causing widespread damage. Reports said Tennessee was hardest hit by the storms. Around 300,000 Midwestern homes and businesses lost electricity. Reports said the worst damage from the storms occurred along a 25 path through five western Tennessee counties, where powerful winds tore off roofs and shattered buildings. Severe thunderstorms, many producing tornadoes, also struck parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Iowa. Meteorologists said the storms developed after a cold front approaching from the west slammed into a mass of warm, humid air standing over the Midwest.

Severe damage was reported between the towns of Newbern and Bradford in Tennessee. The state's governor, Phil Bredesen, said more than 1,000 buildings were seriously damaged or destroyed and 24 people were killed. Eight people died in Gibson County and 15 people were killed in Dyer County as a half-mile wide tornado battered homes and downed trees. Governor Bredesen asked President George W. Bush to declare the counties of Dyer and Gibson federal disaster areas. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported 1,200 damaged structures in Gibson County, while there were 300 damaged buildings in Rutherford and 150 in the town of Dyer.

Arkansas was also hit hard. Fire officials said around six tornadoes touched down in the state, damaging virtually every structure in Marmaduke and destroying nearly 50 percent of the town. Hail of up to 4 inches in diameter also fell in parts of Arkansas. Governor Mike Huckabee authorized the National Guard to help clean up Marmaduke. He also declared emergencies in the counties Conway, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Hot Spring, Randolph and White.