Tornadoes Tear Through Western, Central Arkansas
Tornadoes ripped through western and central Arkansas on Saturday, injuring up to 12 people, destroying homes and knocking out power in some areas, authorities said.
In Polk County, near the Oklahoma border, the National Guard was mobilized after part of downtown Mena was heavily damaged by a tornado. Two people were hospitalized with storm-related injuries, while others were treated at a hospital and released.
“They’ve got power out completely, and they’re needing the Guard for traffic control, to keep folks from coming in just sightseeing, and to prevent looting,” said Ray Briggler of the state Office of Emergency Services.
Some residents of Mena were evacuated, and others had to be rescued after becoming trapped in damaged houses. At least a dozen natural-gas leaks were reported, police said.
Another tornado cut through Haskell, about 25 miles southwest of Little Rock, damaging six homes. Winds blew one house off its foundation and part of a porch flew 50 yards into another home, authorities said.
Tornadoes also touched down in Potter and near Cove in western Arkansas.
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