A tornado that swept through Mena, Arkansas on April 9th, 2009, killed three people and injured at least 30 others.
The twister descended quickly on Mena shortly after 8 p.m. after a series of siren blasts warned residents of tornadoes in the area. A survey of the damage suggests the tornado packed winds of at least 136 mph.
The following day exposed a community ripped apart. Century-old pecan trees leaned into homes — some with pink insulation strung from their branches. Along some streets, roofs had collapsed into homes. On other streets, roofs were simply gone. The mayor at the time, George Mckee, stated that Mena looked like a war zone.
The twister tore the roof off of Rich Mountain Community College and destroyed two businesses at the city's industrial park. Mena Middle School also sustained significant roof damage. One portable classroom was destroyed and part of the auditorium's roof was ripped away.
The violent weather was part of a system that caused damage throughout the South and parts of the Midwest. As the storms moved east, hail and high winds were reported in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. Power was out in many parts of the region.
