A devastating tornado ripped through Jefferson City in Missouri Wednesday night leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, while an elderly couple were killed overnight during a storm in Golden City.
Shocking drone footage shows the aftermath of the storms with buildings torn open and belongings scattered across the road following the series of powerful twisters - totally more than 90 this week - which wreaked havoc on the Heartland.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 86-year-old Kenneth Harris and 83-year-old Opal Harris died in the storm that hit overnight. The tragic couple were found 200 yards from their residence in southwest Missouri.
Meanwhile, 56-year-old Betty Berg died and her 56-year-old husband, Mark Berg, sustained serious injuries in the storm, and several others suffered minor injuries.
The storm also ripped a roof off a fertilizer plant in the area, prompting a precautionary evacuation of 1-mile radius because of a possible chemical leak.
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Destruction: Buildings are seen torn open and belongings scattered across the road following the series of tornadoes - totally more than 90 this week - which have battered the Heartland along with flash flooding ruining homes and livelihoods. The damage left behind by the twister is pictured above in Jefferson City on Thursday morning
The shocking drone footage has revealed the devastation caused by a monster tornado which ripped through Jefferson City in Missouri - leaving a massive trail of destruction. As the catastrophic weather conditions continue to plague the Midwest, flood warnings remain in effect for much of Oklahoma, with more than nine inches of rain fall since Sunday after an already extremely wet spring. The damage left behind by the twister is seen from above in Jefferson City on Thursday morning
Before and after the storm: A once beautiful family home in Jefferson is left devastated on Thursday following the tornado
As the catastrophic weather conditions continue to plague the Midwest, flood warnings remain in effect for much of Oklahoma, with more than nine inches of rain fall since Sunday after an already extremely wet spring.
The deaths of the elderly couple comes after a husband and wife were tragically killed in a traffic accident on Tuesday. An SUV skidded across the center of U.S. 160 and struck a tractor-trailer, claiming the lives of Brandon Beasley, 23, and Christin, 24 of Willard, Missouri.
The severe weather moved in from Oklahoma, where rescuers struggled to pull people from high water.
Near Crescent, about 34 miles north of Oklahoma City, erosion left several homes hanging over the swollen Cimarron River. One unoccupied home rolled into the river, and authorities said others could collapse.
In Arkansas, forecasters issued flood warnings along the Arkansas River because of the expected rush of water coming from Oklahoma.
Jefferson City's damage spanned about a 3-mile area, said Police Lt. David Williams. About 20 people were rescued by emergency personnel, and although there were no reports of missing people, authorities planned door-to-door checks Thursday, he said.
Chaos: The aftermath of the destruction on a highway leading to Jefferson City taken on Thursday is shown from above
Jefferson City's damage spanned about a 3-mile area, said Police Lt. David Williams. About 20 people were rescued by emergency personnel, and although there were no reports of missing people, authorities planned door-to-door checks Thursday, he said
Williams spoke from the Cole County Sheriff's office, where debris including insulation, roofing shingles and metal pieces lay on the ground outside the front doors. Authorities discouraged people from beginning clean-up efforts until power is safely restored. Hospitals set up command centers if needed (Jefferson City on Thursday)
The weather service reported that a 'confirmed large and destructive tornado' was observed over Jefferson City at 11:43pm Wednesday, moving northeast at 40 mph. The capital city has a population of about 40,000 and is located about 130 miles west of St. Louis. 'It's a chaotic situation right now,' Williams said.
Williams spoke from the Cole County Sheriff's office, where debris including insulation, roofing shingles and metal pieces lay on the ground outside the front doors. Authorities discouraged people from beginning clean-up efforts until power is safely restored. Hospitals set up command centers if needed.
Missouri Public Safety tweeted that more tornadoes and flash flooding were possible.
Firefighters have begun rescue operations in the area, including at the apartment building. Missouri Task Force 1 was also activated.
'All Jefferson City Firefighters have been called back and are beginning rescue operations. Please Pray for our Citizens,' the Jefferson City Fire Department tweeted.
Firefighters aren't able to reach the complex due to the collapse of a YMCA building that's blocking the road. There are also multiple reports on social media of a Best Western hotel that got hit by the tornado with injuries inside.
Austin Thomson, 25, was in the laundry room of his complex of two-story apartment buildings in Jefferson City and noticed the wind started picking up. He saw sheets of rain coming down and a flagpole bend and then slam to the ground. The windows broke and he dove behind the washers and dryers.
After it calmed down, he walked outside to check the damage, and retrieved a stuffed animal for his daughter from his damaged apartment. 'There's basically one building that's basically one story now,' he said.
The weather service said it had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday; some could be duplicate reporting of the same twister.
One tornado skirted just a few miles north of Joplin, Missouri, on the eighth anniversary of a catastrophic tornado that killed 161 people in the city. The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles north of the Joplin airport, where several injuries were reported.
The severe weather was expected to continue Thursday as the storms head east. Forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center say parts of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic could see tornadoes, large hail and strong winds. Forecasters say the area most at risk for bad weather Thursday includes Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Storms and torrential rains have ravaged the Midwest, from Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. Authorities urged residents of several small towns in Oklahoma and Kansas to leave their homes as rivers and streams rose.
Two barges broke loose and floated swiftly down the swollen Arkansas River in eastern Oklahoma, spreading alarm downstream as they threatened to hit a dam. A posting on the official Facebook page of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, said the runaway barges posed a dire threat to the river town's 600 residents: 'Evacuate Webbers Falls immediately. The barges are loose and has the potential to hit the lock and dam 16. If the dam breaks, it will be catastrophic!! Leave now!!'
Authorities located the barges Thursday morning, stuck on rocks in the swollen river. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the barges were still tied together, and crews were working to secure them.
Still, the Interstate 40 bridge and a state highway bridge remain closed over the Arkansas River at Webbers Falls as a precaution, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2002, a barge struck the Interstate 40 bridge pier at Webbers Falls, causing part of the bridge to collapse into the Arkansas River. Fourteen people died after their vehicles plunged into the water.
A National Weather Service meteorologist said: 'As of this morning, the main parts of the storms have pushed eastward, thank goodness,' leaving the region to deal with just another expected two inches of rain through Friday.
However, Missouri Public Safety tweeted that there was a possibility of more tornadoes and flash flooding.
First responders warned that 'flash flooding hazards will expand as rain continues'. There have also been numerous reports of gas odors.
Authorities confirmed that several buildings had collapsed and photos from one structure appeared to be a Sonic restaurant.
There were also local reports of a bowling alley with heavy damage and a destroyed bank.
Photos showed overturned cars at the Riley Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership located on Christy Drive.
The NWS said it had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday evening, although some of those could be duplicate reporting of the same twister. One of the other tornadoes (pictured) skirted just a few miles north of Joplin, Missouri
Multiple injuries were also reported, but no fatalities. Some residents are also trapped under rubble in an apartment complex (pictured) that suffered damage to more than half of its building in Jefferson City, Missouri on Wednesday night
Numerous power lines have been downed in Jefferson City and there's debris (left and right) in the streets that includes large pieces of wood and concrete. The catastrophic tornado has ripped through Missouri's capital, according to the National Weather Service. The 'violent tornado' was confirmed in Jefferson City around 11.47pm Wednesday night
Austin Thomson, 25, was in the laundry room of his complex of two-story apartment buildings to do his wash and noticed the wind started picking up.
He saw sheets of rain coming down and a flagpole bend and then slam to the ground. The windows broke and he dove behind the washers and dryers.
After it calmed down, he walked outside to check the damage, and retrieved a stuffed animal for his daughter from his damaged apartment.
'There's basically one building that's basically one story now,' he said.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson tweeted late Wednesday night: 'We're doing okay but praying for those that were caught in damage, some are still trapped - local emergency crews are on site and assisting.
Parson said first responders will 'continue to monitor and assist throughout the severe storms lasting until morning. Stay safe and alert!'
This image posted on Twitter account of Stechshultsy shows tornado-hit Jefferson City. Missouri on Thursday
A wall is collapsed in Jefferson City, Missouri on Thursday. The U.S. National Weather Service says a 'violent tornado' has touched down in Jefferson City, Missouri, causing possible fatalities and heavy damage
Plastic chairs lie in the road and metal from a damaged gas station roof is twisted around a downed power line in Jefferson City Missouri Thursday. The catastrophic tornado has ripped through Missouri's capital, according to the National Weather Service. The 'violent tornado' was confirmed in Jefferson City around 11.47pm Wednesday night
Numerous power lines have been downed in Jefferson City and there's debris in the streets that includes large pieces of wood and concrete.
Earlier Wednesday evening, Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin issued a mandatory evacuation for an area involving a handful of homes.
Jefferson City police Lt Dave Williams estimated that only about five to 10 homes are in the area that's under a mandatory evacuation.
Late Wednesday, the weather service warned residents in a tweet to take 'shelter now!' An emergency alert described the tornado as 'large an destructive' and moving at 40mph
As a precaution, the Missouri National Guard also moved four helicopters out of the city's airport, which also is on the north side of the river. And a Memorial Day weekend airshow was canceled.
The NWS issued tornado warnings for several Missouri towns until 1am CDT.
For the third consecutive day, dangerous storms prompted numerous tornado warnings and reports of twisters touching down, mostly in Missouri and Oklahoma.
The NWS said it had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday evening, although some of those could be duplicate reporting of the same twister.
One tornado skirted just a few miles north of Joplin, Missouri, on the eighth anniversary of a catastrophic tornado that killed 161 people in the city.
These pictures posted by the Missouri State Highway patrol show damaged caused by a tornado in Jefferson City including a collapsed tree and an overturned vehicle
The Joplin tornado on May 22, 2011, was one of the strongest and most destructive in US history.
The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles north of the Joplin airport.
Law enforcement confirmed three fatalities in the Golden City area of Barton County and several injuries in the Carl Junction area of Jasper County from the tornado that hit Joplin.
Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer said officials won't know the true extent of the damage until the morning.
The Arkansas River was approaching historic highs, while the already high Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were again rising after a multi-day stretch of storms that produced dozens of tornadoes.
Officials said the Mississippi River was at or approaching major flood stage from Iowa through southern Missouri and Illinois.
Damage is seen on a street after the tornado in Jefferson City which was described as a 'direct hit' on the state capital
There was considerable damage outside this Jefferson City house after the city took a 'direct hit' from a tornado
Authorities confirmed that several buildings had collapsed and photos from one structure appeared to be a Sonic restaurant
This destroyed structure is believed to be the Sonic restaurant located along along Ellis Boulevard
In St Louis, the Mississippi was expected to crest Monday at nearly 12 feet above flood stage.
If that holds, the Coast Guard will likely close the river to navigation for the second time this month.
Along the Missouri River, about 50 levees in Missouri could be overtopped by Saturday as high water levels move downstream, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The river was expected to crest Thursday at 36.1 feet near the town of Glasgow, Missouri, overtopping agricultural levees and inundating some homes, highways and parkland.
Forecasters predicted parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas could see more severe weather Wednesday night into Thursday.
'The biggest concern is more rain,' Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt said during a news conference following an aerial tour with Tulsa Mayor G.W. Bynum and other officials Wednesday morning.
Photos showed overturned cars at the Riley Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership (pictured) located on Christy Drive
The tornado damaged dozens of cars at the Chevrolet lot Wednesday night
Several cars were seen on top of one another at the dealership
Overturned vehicles litter the dealership along Christy Drive
The deluge inundated roadways, closing highways in 22 Oklahoma counties and 17 Kansas counties, along with more than 330 Missouri roads.
Amtrak suspended train service Wednesday and Thursday along a route between St Louis and Kansas City because of congestion and flood-related delays.
Deaths from this week's storms include a 74-year-old woman found early Wednesday morning in Iowa.
Officials there say she was killed by a possible tornado that damaged a farmstead in Adair County.
For the third consecutive day, dangerous storms prompted numerous tornado warnings and reports of twisters touching down, mostly in Missouri and Oklahoma
Missouri authorities said heavy rain was a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield.
A fourth weather-related death may have occurred in Oklahoma, where the Highway Patrol said a woman apparently drowned after driving around a barricade Tuesday near Perkins, about 45 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
The unidentified woman's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office to confirm the cause of death.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said she isn't yet listed as what would be the state's first storm-related death.
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News Photo Shocking drone footage reveals extent of devastation caused by monster tornado
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