Local News
At Least Four Dead, Widespread Destruction Following Tornado Outbreak Across St. Louis
A devastating wave of severe storms and confirmed tornadoes tore through the St. Louis metropolitan area on Friday, leaving at least four people dead, multiple injured, and entire neighborhoods in ruins.
The destruction prompted a large-scale emergency response across both the city and county.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed the fatalities during a press conference Friday evening, describing the destruction as โextensive,โ particularly in a swath from Kingshighway Boulevard and Delmar Boulevard stretching north to the city limits.
The tornadoes downed trees, shattered windows, toppled structures, and knocked out power to tens of thousands of residents.
Among the four confirmed fatalities was one individual killed in the collapse of the historic Centennial Christian Church, located at Fountain and Aubert Avenues in the Fountain Park neighborhood.
The church, a beloved community landmark, crumbled as the violent storms moved through the area. Emergency responders were able to rescue two individuals trapped inside, but sadly, one person did not survive.
St. Louis Childrenโs Hospital reported treating five storm-related patients, one of whom remains in critical condition.
Fire and rescue crews are actively working to reach additional victims, including a 45-year-old man trapped in the basement of a collapsed home in Clayton.
Officials confirmed the man is in communication with rescuers as family members wait anxiously nearby.
The damage extended well beyond the cityโs core:
- In the Central West End, large trees were uprooted and debris scattered across McPherson and Taylor.
- A building collapsed in the 4600 block of Vernon Avenue.
- The Harlem Tap Room on Martin Luther King Drive suffered major structural failure, with its entire upper story ripped off. Patrons inside said they had just moments to take cover after being warned.
- In the Richmond Heights and Forest Park areas, extensive damage was reported, including structural damage to the Missouri History Museum, Missouri Art Museum, and Forest Park Golf Course.
- A tree reportedly fell on a Metro Transit bus, injuring passengers.
- Portions of MetroLink service were suspended due to widespread power outages.
As of Friday evening, approximately 30,000 city residents and 40,000 county residents were without electricity.
The St. Louis region had been under a Level 4 out of 5 severe weather threat most of the day, with concerns centered on large hail and high winds.
However, multiple tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service beginning around 2:00 p.m., sweeping rapidly through the metro area.
Authorities emphasized that although the main storm front has passed, secondary risks remain, including gas leaks and unstable structures.
In Clayton, evacuation orders were issued following reports of a gas leak, and the smell of gas was reported by emergency crews on scene.
Rescue teams continue to assess the full extent of the damage and search for survivors. Officials are urging residents to:
- Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary
- Avoid using cell phones unless in emergency situations, as infrastructure is impacted
- Report any missing individuals or structural hazards
โThis is a heartbreaking day for St. Louis,โ said Mayor Spencer. โOur city is resilient, but we are grieving with the families of those we lost. Emergency crews are doing everything they can to help everyone affected by this disaster.โ
The cause and precise path of the tornadoes are still under investigation by the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies.
Additional updates are expected as officials work to clear debris and restore services across the region.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the cityโs historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vesselโs emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. โ Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucesterโs historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucesterโthe nationโs oldest working fishing portโactivated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. โShe put her heart and soul into this opportunity,โ family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucesterโs close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vesselโs owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. โI hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,โ she said. โThis is heartbreaking.โ
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucesterโs deep fishing heritage. โGloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,โ Tarr said. โIt appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.โ
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was โheartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,โ adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victimsโ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: โThe salt has been in our blood for generationsโฆ A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.โ
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series NorโEaster Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New Englandโs commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victimsโ families and Gloucesterโs fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.