A severe weather outbreak wreaked havoc across the American heartland over the weekend, unleashing dozens of tornadoes that ravaged communities stretching from Texas to Iowa.

The devastation claimed the lives of at least five individuals, leaving thousands of residents grappling with the aftermath, sifting through debris in search of salvageable belongings.

Since Thursday, over 90 tornadoes, ranging in intensity from EF-0 to EF-4, have been confirmed, with the count expected to rise as assessment teams from the National Weather Service continue their evaluations.

Friday marked the most active tornado day of 2024, with a staggering 88 tornado reports, reminiscent of the highest single-day tally since March 31, 2023.

Amidst the chaos, rare Tornado Emergencies were declared in Iowa and Nebraska, signaling catastrophic conditions.

Cities like Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Minden, Iowa, bore the brunt of the tornadoes, prompting the deployment of specialized response teams to survey the extensive damage, Fox Weather reported.

Despite warning sirens blaring and emergency alerts, tragedy struck as at least one person lost their life in the chaos.

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department confirmed the death of a man who was trapped in his basement during Friday’s tornado outbreak, despite valiant efforts by first responders to rescue him.

Written by B.C. Begley