A report from the Washington Post started to organize the extensive reports of damage rolling in across the U.S. during the storms spanning April 28 and 29. While reports of damage and further analysis of the severe wind, rain, and tornado activity can be expected in the coming weeks and months as residents and businesses take steps to assess and document the effect of the storms, here are some of the initial reports and estimates from the immediate aftermath:
- Alabama. A state of emergency was declared for counties statewide in response to several fatal tornadoes that caused severe damage in Rogersville, Kimberly, and other areas.
- Georgia. A state of emergency was declared as the storm system approached Georgia, and residents struggled with damage from high winds and flooding. One tornado was confirmed in western Georgia.
- Louisiana. In Northwest Louisiana, a possible tornado injured at least one person, and some severe damage was reported. However, most properties only suffered minor damages.
- Mississippi. Tragically, six lives were lost in Winston County, and residents and businesses in Winston and Rankin Counties suffered widespread property damage in a tornado on April 28.
- North Carolina. According to a report from CBS News, many were injured and more than 200 residences sustained damage in a set of tornado-producing storms that preceded the later severe storms on the 28th and 29th. Reports of damage to commercial and farm properties had not yet been confirmed.
- Tennessee. Lincoln County, located south of Nashville, experienced high winds and a destructive tornado that caused injuries and property damage across the region.
- Arkansas. Central Arkansas saw fatal tornado activity that devastated the cities of Mayflower and Vilonia.
- Iowa. Farms, commercial properties, and residences in southeastern Iowa, including Kinross, Floris, and Mount Vernon, were severely damaged, and multiple injuries and deaths have been reported.
- Kansas. Storms affected multiple areas, but the hardest hit was the town of Baxter Springs, where multiple people were injured and multiple private homes and business properties were completely lost.
- Missouri. Areas south of Kansas City were affected by a tornado, including Bates County, Hume, Linn County, and surrounding areas. No major injuries or damages have been reported.
- Oklahoma. A tornado touched down in Quapaw, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in Ottawa County. At least one person died in the storm, and at least one building was completely destroyed.
Other states not mentioned here were also affected by the several-day stretch of late April storms, and more information should be available for affected residents and businesses as clean-up and assessment get underway.
If you own commercial property that was damaged in the April 2014 storms, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions. Additionally, you may want to request a free copy of our informative guide for businesses, Commercial Insurance Claims: The Basics.
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