Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a ‘State of Emergency’ after a series of storms and one confirmed tornado swept through the St. Louis area yesterday. The international airport in St. Louis took a direct hit from a tornado. Five injuries were reported.
The TSA announced this morning that the A-Concourse can open tomorrow if electricity is restored. The T-1 C-Concourse was reported to be the worst hit and may not be opened for weeks or months. There was no damage to the airfield or the air traffic control tower.
Fox News reported –
The international airport in St. Louis closed indefinitely Saturday after a tornado swept through a terminal, injuring several people.
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport announced in a statement Saturday that it will remain closed pending the return of electric power but is working to resume up to 70 percent of airline service by Sunday if power can be returned to Airport facilities.
The airport’s busiest terminal sustained heavy damage from fierce winds that blew out a majority of windows and sections of the concourse roof, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport spokesman Jeff Lea said.
Still, Lea said once sustained power is returned, the airport is confident it can support the return of flights to a majority of gate areas except Concourse C.
The St. Louis area utility, Ameren, has estimated power could be returned by Saturday night.
National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Truett confirmed Saturday it was a tornado that struck the airport.
He said it was possible that a tornado that touched down near the St. Charles County town of New Melle was the one that ripped into the airport and apparently other parts of St. Louis County. If that was the case, the tornado sustained itself for roughly 30 miles.
“We think it touched down at New Melle and maybe lifted up and touched down again at the airport,” Truett said. “We still have to connect the dots to be sure.”
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced late Friday he had declared a state of emergency, allowing state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency responses to the storm’s aftermath, including the destruction at Lambert.
Fox News has a slideshow of the airport damage here.
Amateur video of the tornado here.
Needs for victims.. Plastic tubs, Boxes,Tape, Permanent Markers
Hat tip/Ed
