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.

Elsewhere, three people were killed in Missouri. A tornado touched down in the city of Caruthersville, a city of 6,700, damaging 60 percent of the town, according to the Missouri Emergency Management Agency. In Illinois, a long front of severe weather damaged dozens of homes and businesses in the town of Taylorville in Christian County, according to Taylorville Emergency Management. The NWS also reported tornado touchdowns in the Illinois counties of Champaign, McLean, Macon, Piatt, Sangamon and Kankakee. Initial damage reports in these counties were limited to downed trees and utility poles in addition to roof damage. Meanwhile, in Fairview Heights, Illinois, a K&G clothing store collapsed during the severe weather, killing one person.

Widespread damage was also reported in Kentucky and Indiana. Reports said around 100 homes in Kentucky were damaged, prompting Governor Ernie Fletcher to declare a state of emergency. In Indiana, several properties were damaged by the storms and officials declared emergencies in the central and southern counties of Davies, Jennings, Knox, Green and Marion.

Ohio was also affected by the severe weather. A tornado with winds of at least 113 miles per hour damaged homes, barns and farm equipment across a six-mile stretch of Ohio's Van Wert County. The storm also knocked down power lines, disrupting service to several homes. Damage in Iowa, meanwhile, was reported in central, eastern and southern regions.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters News, Agence Presse France, BBC News, CNN News, The New York Times

This report was reprinted with permission. For more CAT-i reports, go to http://www.guycarp.com.

Special Reports /

Guy Carp Reports on Midwest Tornado Damage

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