Latest news with #DennisJenkerson
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What's next for St. Louis after deadly tornado? City leaders outline recovery plans
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis leaders and officials are now focused on recovery efforts after a deadly tornado tore through the city and region on Friday, killing at least five people, injuring 38, and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. During a Saturday afternoon news conference, city leaders detailed ongoing emergency response efforts and outlined key next steps in recovery, cleanup, and community support. One Day Later: Shocking new photos reveal widespread tornado damage in St. Louis The news conference included the following notes and remarks: Mayor Cara Spencer noted that city employees have been working around the clock from the city's Emergency Operations Headquarters. Spencer acknowledged various challenges in moving forward, noting that roadways and buildings are still in dangerous conditions. As for debris cleanup, she says the city is hauling massive amounts of tree debris and working to clear roadways and alleys. Dumpsters are a key concern, and coordination is ongoing. Spencer confirmed that St. Louis has declared a local emergency and is now pursuing a federal disaster declaration from the White House. Spencer expressed gratitude to local, state, and federal partners while describing the community response as 'heartwarming and truly incredible.' St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson says fire crews have completed an extensive sweep, covering 62 square miles of the city and ensuring that every street has been check. A final sweep began late Saturday afternoon in the northern part of the city. Officials aimed to complete it by 7 p.m. Saturday. Jenkerson says there are no changes in the number of injuries reported as of the previous update on deaths and injuries Saturday morning. St. Louis police chief Robert Tracy confirmed that SLMPD has identified three of the five victims killed in the tornado. Officials are currently working to notify their families. The five victims are believed to be between the ages of 30 and 82, according to Tracy. Tracy emphasized the importance of the citywide curfew in districts 5 and 6, stressing the need for public safety. Friday's St. Louis tornado believed to be an EF-3, says NWS Missouri U.S. Sen. Wesley Bell voiced support for a federal disaster declaration from President Donald Trump, noting he would work with locals and pledged to use any resource available. Bell was quoted as saying, 'Faith without works is dead,' and recovery wouldn't simply be an 'overnight fix.' Bell called for community donations and volunteerism, encouraging residents to donate to United Way of Greater St. Louis, volunteer through Red Cross and check local food banks for needs. HOW TO HELP An Ameren Missouri spokesperson urged patience from residents as crews work to restore power. He noted restoration was being prioritized for crticial facilities, like hospitals, nursing homes, police and fire stations. From there, he added crews are focusing on areas with the highest outage clusters to restore power as efficiently as possible. A Red Cross spokesperson noted that three city shelters are helping residents, though the one at Grace Methodist Church is full. For now, residents in need should seek shelters at the Friendly Temple Outreach Center or the 12th & Park Recreation Center. She noted Red Cross teams are on the ground helping with food, shelter and assessing property damage. In the upcoming days, the additional Red Cross teams will be deployed to evaluate household needs across the city. Urban League noted its disaster relief site has been set up at 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. On Saturday, volunteers delivered food and water to 75 families. In the near future, the nonprofit hopes to work with the regional council to conduct neighborhood walk-throughs and assess ongoing needs. Gentry Trotter with Cool Down/Heat Up St. Louis urged Ameren and Spire to consider a four-month moratorium on utility shutoffs in response to severe storms. Trotter also announced support to use ARPA federal funds to help impacted families and relieve financial pressure. He also encouraged donations to Cool Down/Heat Up St. Louis to help residents in need. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
St. Louis reeling after tornado ripped through city, killing 5 people and injuring 38
As crews surveyed the damage from a tornado that ripped through St. Louis, authorities said Saturday that at least five people were dead and 38 injured citywide. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in St. Louis confirmed the powerful tornado touched down shortly after the agency issued a warning around 2:30 p.m. Friday. Emergency crews were working Saturday to clear debris from streets and urging people to stay away from damaged areas for their safety. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department provided an update on social media on Saturday afternoon, saying 38 people have reported injuries. The deadly storm was one of several tornadoes that tore through the region, leaving at least 23 dead since Friday, The Associated Press reported. A neighborhood resource center opened Saturday at Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, 1408 N. Kingshighway, to provide assistance to those affected by the storm. Several GoFundMe pages have launched asking for community assistance for lost homes, injuries and lost loved ones. GoFundMe set up a landing page of verified fundraisers for people interested in donating. The St. Louis-area tornado touched down near Clayton and moved east across the Mississippi River into Illinois and reached a width of about three blocks, a fire department spokesperson said Friday. St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson estimated 500 first responders were part of the storm effort Friday evening. 'There is very significant damage because of this storm,' he said Friday. 'This was a very destructive storm.' Previous reporting by The Star's Nathan Pilling contributed to this story.
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Business Recorder
At least 16 killed, dozens injured as suspected tornadoes hit Missouri and Kentucky, NBC reports
At least 16 people were killed when severe weather, including possible tornadoes, swept through parts of Missouri and Kentucky from Friday into Saturday morning, NBC News reported on Saturday. A tornado ripped through St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday, damaging 5,000 properties as it tore off roofs. It also knocked down power lines and swept through a major thoroughfare during rush-hour traffic, officials said. Five people were killed in St. Louis, and two others in Scott County, in southeastern Missouri, according to officials, the NBC report said. 'Our city is grieving tonight,' St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who was sworn in a month ago, told reporters. 'The loss of life and the destruction is truly, truly horrendous.' A spokesperson for both St. Louis Children's Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital told NBC news that at least 35 injured people had been admitted to the facilities, with the children's facility receiving 15 and Barnes-Jewish taking in at least 20, possibly 30 who were injured as a result of the severe weather. At least 40 killed in weekend US tornadoes The city imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (0200-1100 GMT) in two police districts where most of the damage took place to prevent injuries from dangerous debris and reduce the potential for looting. At the time of the deadly twister, a hazardous weather advisory was in effect for eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis area, warning of severe thunderstorms through early Friday evening, and a tornado watch posted for areas immediately to the southeast. The National Weather Service said thunderstorms were widespread across portions of the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio Valleys on Friday, along with the potential for heavy rains and flash flooding. About 500 first responders, including 17 search teams, were deployed, and early indications suggested the number of injured was relatively small considering the overall damage, Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said. The National Weather Service reported at least half a dozen tornadoes touching down in Missouri and neighboring Illinois and other severe weather stretching all the way to the Atlantic Coast, including another tornado in New Jersey.
Washington Post
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
At least 16 dead in Missouri, Kentucky as severe storms sweep central U.S.
At least 16 people have died after severe storms swept through the central United States, with possible tornadoes touching down in Missouri and Kentucky, according to authorities. Five people were killed in severe weather in St. Louis, city officials said, though meteorologists have not yet confirmed there was a tornado, with the National Weather Service St. Louis saying that damage reports and radar imagery suggests one had 'likely occurred.' At a news conference Friday, St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson described at a path of destruction that began on a major thoroughfare during afternoon rush hour before moving east over a river into southern Illinois.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Multiple deaths reported in St. Louis after suspected tornado moved through metro
Five people were reported dead, and significant storm damage was reported in the St. Louis area after a suspected tornado moved through the metro Friday afternoon, officials said. In a press conference Friday evening, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said the death toll from the storm had reached five and that more than 5,000 homes were damaged by the storm. Officials did not have a count of injuries Friday evening. 'Our city is grieving tonight,' Spencer said. 'The loss of life and the destruction is truly, truly horrendous.' 'It truly is a hard night for many, many people and many, many families in our community,' Spencer added. There was significant damage to north and west areas of the city, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said. A curfew would be in effect for parts of the city overnight into Saturday morning, police said. St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said first responders have mapped out the path of the suspected tornado, which touched down in the Clayton area and moved east across the Mississippi River into Illinois and reached a width of about three blocks. He estimated 500 first responders were working in the storm response on Friday evening. 'There is very significant damage because of this storm,' he said. 'This was a very destructive storm.' 'Damage reports and radar imagery suggest a tornado likely occurred across parts of St. Louis this afternoon,' the National Weather Service's St. Louis office said in a social media post on Friday evening. 'We will have a survey team on the ground tomorrow to confirm and assign a rating.' The National Weather Service had received damage reports throughout the St. Louis metro of downed power poles and trees, large hail and damaged buildings.
