February Midwest Tornadoes

February Midwest Tornadoes, A damaged truck and debris is seen after a tornado touched down February 29, 2011in Harveyville, Kansas. According to reports, at least nine people have died in tornadoes across the Midwest.
At least 29 people are confirmed dead in the wake of violent storms across the states of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Widespread damage was also reported in Alabama and Tennessee.

According to the Associated Press, authorities fear they will find more bodies as they scour the debris today.

“We’ve learned so much and improved so much in disaster preparedness, warning systems and responder communications but still we are no match for Mother Nature at her worst,” said Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, who will be visiting some of the worst-hit areas in the southeast of the state today.

Fourteen people were killed in Indiana, including a four-year-old child and her grandparents. Another 12 died in Kentucky, where the full extent of the damage is difficult to assess since roads in several counties are blocked. At least three people have been found dead in Ohio.

Hundreds of National Guard troops and emergency workers were searching for survivors early Saturday, CNN reported. The network described some rare cases of success: one 2-year-old girl was found alive and alone in a field in Salem, Indiana, while thermal imaging and rescue dogs helped locate a missing 9-year-old boy in the nearby town of Henryville.

Meanwhile in Tennessee, 29 people were injured and dozens of buildings damaged, the Wall Street Journal reported. More than 10 counties reported tornadoes.