Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    March 03, 2012

Tornadoes Kill Over 30 in US

   VOA News
   An American flag flies over the damaged gym at Henryville High School
   in Henryville, Indiana, March 3, 2012.
   Photo: AP
   An American flag flies over the damaged gym at Henryville High School
   in Henryville, Indiana, March 3, 2012.

   U.S. rescue crews were searching for survivors Saturday after a string
   of tornadoes killed more than 30 people across several eastern states,
   causing epic destruction in some areas.
   Authorities reported at least 32 deaths in the states of Kentucky,
   Indiana, Ohio and Alabama Friday.
   Tornadoes - often called twisters - leveled much of the town of
   Henryville, Indiana. The twisters tore apart homes, mangled vehicles
   and even threw a school bus into a building.
   Officials in the town of Marysville, Indiana, say their town is
   "completely gone."
   Heavy damage was also reported near Louisville, Kentucky, where a
   tornado touched down Friday evening.

   Tornadoes hit earlier in the day in the southern state of Alabama,
   injuring some residents. One of the twisters severely damaged the roof
   of a maximum security prison, but no inmates escaped.
   Twisters were also confirmed in central Tennessee Friday.
   The severe weather comes just two days after this week's first outbreak
   of tornadoes cut a path of destruction through the central and southern
   parts of the U.S., killing 13 people.
   The powerful storm system tore through neighborhoods in the states of
   Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee Wednesday, and spawned tornadoes in
   Kansas and Kentucky.
   Last year, tornadoes killed at least 545 people in the United States
   according to the National Weather Service, one of the deadliest years
   on record.

.