Governor Sanders Reports Significant Damage Caused as Tornadoes Strike Arkansas

On March 31, 2023, a large tornado tore through Arkansas causing significant damage. The tornado touched down near the state capital, Little Rock, and tore down trees and damaged houses. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted that police and emergency services were working to assist anyone injured, and called for residents to stay aware as the National Weather Service forecast more storms later in the afternoon. More than 70,000 people were without power across the state. The city’s mayor, Frank Scott, tweeted that the storm had been devastating and requested Sanders’ office to send National Guards to help with cleanup. Although the governor’s office could not immediately confirm any casualties, a local hospital told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that it had already begun to receive patients, including a few in critical condition. Tornadoes are common in the United States, especially in the center and south of the country. Last week, a tornado swept through Rolling Fork, a small town in Mississippi, killing 13 people and causing extensive property damage. In December 2021, about 80 people were killed by tornadoes in Kentucky.