7 hurt in Arkansas tornado; Deep South braces for storms

By KEN MILLER and JILL BLEED
Associated Press

Severe storms that included at least two tornadoes injured several people, damaged homes and businesses and downed power lines in Arkansas and Missouri overnight as twisters and hurricane-force winds were forecast in much of the Deep South on Wednesday. No deaths were reported from the storms late Tuesday and early Wednesday. Officials say a tornado that struck Springdale, Arkansas, and the adjoining town of Johnson injured seven people, two critically. The National Weather Service said that tornado would be rated “at least EF-2,” which would mean wind speeds reached up to 135 mph. In northwest Missouri, a weaker tornado struck St. Joseph on Tuesday night, according the weather service. That tornado damaged two homes in St. Joseph, but no injuries were reported.