Tornado creates lots of chaos in Missouri capital

Three die elsewhere in state; damage widespread, 20 hurt

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The tornado warning sirens had quieted, and Larry Jett was dozing in his recliner when the piercing alerts began again.

It was too late to scramble to the basement as the massive twister that tore through this city overnight descended on his family home of 40 years. His mother, Bettie, flung herself onto the chair with him as the powerful storm sucked the recliner to the ceiling before dropping them all to the floor.

“It happened so quick you didn’t even know what happened,” Larry Jett, 57, said Thursday as they picked through the debris. “I swear the devil is trying to kill me.”

The tornado touched off a “chaotic situation” that left 20 people injured, scores of buildings damaged and some residents trapped in their homes, police Lt. David Williams told reporters from the damaged Cole County Sheriff’s Office building. The Midwest has been hammered by scores of tornadoes and heavy storms in recent days, leaving at least seven dead and a trail of damage from the high winds and flooding. And forecasters warned of more severe weather through Friday. The tornado here struck hours after a twister roared through the rural hamlet of Golden City, 170 to the southwest, killing three people. Amazingly, no fatalities were reported in Jefferson City, the state’s capital and home to more than 40,000 people.

Williams said the twister cut through a three-mile swath of the city, where tornado sirens were first activated shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday. At 11:39 p.m., first responders had received the first report of confirmed property damage to a home. Ultimately, at least 20 people trapped in their homes were rescued, Williams said.

Gov. Mike Parson said he was grateful that many heeded the alerts and warnings.

“We were very fortunate last night that we didn’t have more injuries,” he said. “We are very thankful that we didn’t have more fatalities than we did.”

Mayor Carrie Tergin said a “significant portion” of the city was without power Thursday. Authorities warned residents not to begin cleanup operations until power is restored.

“It sounds as if the injuries have been few, which is truly amazing considering the extent of the damage,” Tergin said on CNN.