US under twister attack by Claudia Sonea

Macon County Tennessee was hit on Thursday night by a twister that killed 14 persons and that in the context of a series of tornadoes rumbled through the South. The death toll (referring to Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama) eventually rose to 59 on late Friday, while the number of homeless and hospitalized persons is yet unknown. The first wave of funerals began Friday. Macon County was under curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., while people from the worst damaged areas had to show identification at checkpoints to get to their homes. The National Weather Service said that in Tennessee a single tornado caused 24 of the storm deaths. Nearby Gallatin, Summer County, the twister first hit and then moved quickly across a small part of Trousdale County, continued through Macon County, Kentucky. Many showed bravery in such desperate moments like the nurses from Mountain View, Arkansas, who held onto 17 patients at Stone County Medical Center, even as the wind tore the roof from the building. In Macon the grief and desperation made Pastor Welch to step in and counsel people, comfort them. Unfortunately he was not outside danger and together with Julie, his 11-year-old daughter, Hannah, and his 14-year-old son they were hospitalized after their car was hit by a semi-struck. He kept faith even on the death bed and in an interview with The Associated Press at the center Thursday, he continued to comfort people and encourage them to pray. Dozens of people came at Welch's church on Thursday evening and prayed for the soul of such a brave man and his family. Bishop Richard Wills of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church promise that the work of Welch will be continued and said the grief counseling ministry will go on. President Bush wanted to express his solidarity and on Friday morning flew over the damaged area in a helicopter, accompanied by both of the state's senators and three congressmen, declaring that these major disasters will be covered by for federal funds used to help local government and some individuals. In the memory of those who lost their lives, for the safety of all those that are still missing let us pray to God and ask him for pity and protection. In moments like these faith is all that remains to people. This should be a moment of silence!

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/severe_weather;_ylt=Aoa2GEDigBh5i62Ne1fw_..s0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Edited by Katarina Rastocna