Severe Weather Hits Nation's Heartland
Release Date: April 23, 1999
Release Number: HQ-99-133
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Weather Service (NWS) reports severe weather hit the Midwest and Southern Plains last night. The most significant damage occurred in the Oklahoma town of Carrie when a tornado touched down at approximately 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Local officials in Oklahoma initially have reported 46 residences either destroyed or damaged and one business destroyed. The American Red Cross established a temporary shelter in Carrie. The Salvation Army has established a mobile canteen in the area. State and local damage assessments are underway.
FEMA's regional office in Denton, Texas (Region VI) is in contact with Oklahoma state officials and will continue to monitor the situation.
Elsewhere, at least one tornado touched down in central Illinois and there was minor flooding reported in Indiana. No injuries or fatalities and no significant damage have been reported.
NWS forecasters expect the threat of severe weather to continue today for much of the nation's heartland, especially from north-central Texas, across Oklahoma and Missouri, and into Tennessee and Kentucky. The main concern from the storms are damaging winds and large hail.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 13-Jan-2004 11:54:47