Perilous Times and Climate Change
Homes destroyed as Three Tornadoes hit Arkansas
March 11, 2010 2:30 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* First twister struck in Saline County and damaged 22 homes
* Another tornado struck in White County, damaging 9 homes and
injuring one person
* A third tornado hit in Cleburne County, leaving homes destroyed
and three people hurt
(CNN) -- Parts of Arkansas were under a tornado watch until early
Thursday after a series of powerful tornadoes ripped through dozens of
homes, critically injuring two people.
The first twister struck in Saline County in central Arkansas at 7:28
p.m. ET Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. The tornado
damaged 22 homes, an Arkansas Emergency Management spokeswoman said.
A woman in the area said she could hear the storm roaring as it
approached the area.
"It was the awfulest roaring I ever heard in my life," the woman told
CNN affiliate KTHV. "My house felt like it was fixing to crumble over
me."
Another tornado struck north of Saline in White County at 9:25 p.m. ET,
the weather service said. That storm damaged 9 homes and injured one
person.
A third tornado struck in nearby Cleburne County at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Emergency officials were still trying to determine the full extent of
the damage hours after the twister hit the area. Several homes were
damaged or destroyed and three people were injured. Two were critically
injured, said Renee Preslar, spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of
Emergency Management.
Along with tornadoes, central Arkansas was raked by powerful
thunderstorms and golf ball-size hail, the National Weather Service
said.
"The storm seems to be shifting to the east so the severe weather
should be out of this area by [Thursday]," said John Lewis, a senior
forecaster with an Arkansas office of the National Weather Service.
CNN's Lateef Mungin contributed to this report.