On Wednesday, five people were killed in a tornado that ripped through southeastern Missouri, shearing off roofs, splintering trees, and taking down power lines in devastated Bollinger County, according to officials.
First responders from multiple agencies combed through destroyed homes and businesses in the rural area that Missouri Governor Mike Parson said faces "a long journey ahead" toward recovery.
Eric Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, mentioned that five people were also injured and 87 structures damaged with 12 of those buildings destroyed.
"It's just heartbreaking to see people's homes missing roofs and their homes gone," Missouri State Patrol Highway Sergeant Clark Parrott told Reuters said after surveying the damage. "We got work ahead of us, but we will get through this."
Storm spotters reported the tornado touched down in the area about 3:30 a.m. local time (0830 GMT), according to the National Weather Service, one of more than a dozen twisters seen in the Midwest overnight.
Parson explained that the country would aid people who lost their homes even though some sparsely populated communities would not have sustained enough damage to be eligible for public disaster relief.
"This is going to be weeks upon months to be able to recover," Parson said, adding that President Joe Biden called to offer help and services.
A week before, a tornado devastated the Mississippi Delta town of Rolling Fork, killing 26 people.
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