Hail, Tornadoes Rock the Midwest
At least 30 were injured at an Oktoberfest when tornadoes showed up.
Oct. 18, 2007 — -- An extreme storm front came with tornadoes, flooding and hail spread across a large portion of the Midwest Wednesday night and into this morning.
A funnel cloud swept across Willard, Mo., as warning sirens blared and people took cover.
In Tulsa, Okla., 5,000 people were celebrating Oktoberfest when the severe weather swept in. They huddled inside two giant tents when it began to pour; the tents were whipped into the air before collapsing on the crowd inside.
"People were just stunned. The fact of the tent crashing down, people were inside at the time. It was very chaotic for the individuals," said Officer Leland Ashley of the Tulsa Police Department.
"It came suddenly. There was no warning. There was a little bit of rain then all of a sudden boom," one witness said.
More than 30 people were injured when the tents collapsed; 21 people had to be taken to the hospital and one remains in critical condition.
All across Oklahoma and Missouri there were wind gusts that came through at nearly 90 mph, ripped through mobile homes and downed power lines.
Oklahoma City was pounded by rain and dime-size hail.
Near Springfield, Mo., a tornado toppled power lines and trees and ripped homes to its foundation.
The intense early autumn storm system is rare for this time of year and may be an indication that severe thunderstorms will be widespread throughout the Southeast for the remainder of the fall.
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