'It just sucked all the air': Arkansas man recalls living through deadly tornado that destroyed Wynne
Dark clouds inched closer to Walter Lawrence as an approaching supercell grew wider, pouring down rain as tornado sirens blared in the Cross County community about 100 miles northeast of Little Rock. Moments later, Lawrence found himself in the middle of nature's wrath. After an extensive review, officials confirmed that the tornado had EF-3 damage.
At least 2 dead in Wynne, Arkansas after tornado
A scary night for people in Wynne, Arkansas, following a deadly tornado. Storm chasers say they were helping pull people from debris. FOX Weather's Will Nunley is live with the latest on cleanup efforts.
WYNNE, Ark. – Scenes of destruction surround Walter Lawrence after a large and destructive EF-3 tornado took a direct hit on his home Friday in northeastern Arkansas.
Dark clouds inched closer to Walter Lawrence as an approaching supercell grew wider, pouring down rain as tornado sirens blared in the Cross County community about 100 miles northeast of Little Rock.
"Just as I went in the house, it's like a suction. It just sucked all the air. I couldn’t hear anything," he told FOX Weather Saturday morning as he surveyed what was left of his home after taking a direct hit.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m. local time, a Tornado Emergency was issued for communities around Little Rock. The tornado ripped apart homes and businesses in Wynne. It took everything from Lawrence, even his truck.
"I'm on foot now," he said.
Drone video shows damage from tornado in Wynne, Arkansas
Drone video captured significant damage from a large tornado in the town of Wynne, Arkansas. (Brett Adair/LSM)
Unknown what to do next, he called his daughter, who lives an hour away in Jonesboro, but she was away in Alabama.
"There’s nothing I can do," he said. "All my other family … my sister passed away a week before Christmas. Got another brother, but they moved off."
Lawrence said when the tornado hit, it slammed him against the wall before he could react. Even though warnings were sent out about the severe storms, the twister still took some by surprise.
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 1 of 13A firefighter checks homes for injured residents in the Walnut Ridge neighborhood after a tornado damaged hundreds of homes and building on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 2 of 13The damaged remains of the Walnut Ridge neighborhood is seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 3 of 13A woman evacuates her home after a large tornado damaged hundreds of homes and buildings on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 4 of 13Homes damaged by a tornado are seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 5 of 13Homes and buildings damaged by a tornado are seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 6 of 13A home damaged by a tornado is seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency after the catastrophic storms that hit on Friday afternoon. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 7 of 13Emergency responders rest after helping residents evacuate the Calais apartment complex on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 8 of 13The damaged remains of the Walnut Ridge neighborhood is seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency after the catastrophic storms that hit on Friday afternoon. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 9 of 13A resident evacuates their neighborhood after a large tornado damaged hundreds of homes and buildings on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 10 of 13The damaged remains of the Walnut Ridge neighborhood is seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 11 of 13The damaged remains of the Walnut Ridge neighborhood is seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 12 of 13The remains of the Calais Apartment complex damaged by a tornado is seen on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
![Large Tornado Sweeps Through Little Rock, Arkansas]()
Image 13 of 13A resident inspects the remains of their home on March 31, 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes and buildings Friday afternoon across a large part of Central Arkansas. (Benjamin Krain)
In the wake of the destruction, emergency crews went into search and rescue mode. Residents were told to stay away from the area damaged by the tornado. Four people died in Wynne following the EF-3 tornado and dozens more were injured.
In neighboring Pulaski County, Madeline Roberts, a spokeswoman for the county, told FOX Weather that 50 people were injured in the entire county following the story – 36 of those were injured in Little Rock.
The city’s mayor says that at least 30 people were injured, and one person has been reported dead.
'MY HOUSE IS GONE': SURVIVOR OF DEADLY WYNNE TORNADO DESCRIBES DEVASTATION IN ARKANSAS TOWN
Wynne, Arkansas takes direct hit from large tornado
FOX Weather multimedia journalist Will Nunley shows significant structural damage in Wynne, Arkansas after a large tornado ripped through the area.
This wasn’t the first time Lawrence has been through anything like this. The first tornado he survived was in 1978 when it came through a nearby trailer park at the time and took the roof off his parent’s home.
Multiple tornadoes caused significant damage across Arkansas on Friday, leading Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency for the Natural State.
Currently, about 100 Arkansas National Guard members are assisting with recovery efforts in some of the hardest-hit areas. There’s also a shelter set up at a local school for victims, like Lawrence, who’ve lost their homes.