The damage from last night’s tornados in Arkansas and Oklahoma will not even be fully known for a few days, but as residents continue to comb through what is left of their possessions, they are also mindful of the 17 who have been reported so far as victims of this nasty storm.

A possible EF3 tornado touched down about 10 miles west of Little Rock at around 7pm and ran an 80-mile path of utter destruction through the land, killing 16 and injuring many others.

This tornado was the largest of a huge storm system that battered the central and southern parts of the country, also spawning a tornado that killed one in Quapaw, Okla. before crossing the state line into Kansas where it destroyed up to 70 homes and injured a reported 25 people.

First light in Mayflower, AR #arkwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/KLk5sVsTfV

— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) April 28, 2014

The tornado that did so much damage and killed so many in Arkansas narrowly missed several other victims in cars and trucks who were traveling along I-40 north of Little Rock.

Bill Sadler, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police, said, “About 30 vehicles — large trucks, sedans, pickup trucks — were going through there when the funnel cloud passed over.”

The tornado will most likely be rated as the strongest that the country has seen so far this year, according to AP.

“It has the potential to be EF3 or greater. Based on some of the footage we’ve seen from Mayflower and where it crossed Interstate 40, things were wrecked in a very significant way.”, said meteorologist Jeff Hood. EF3 storms are storms that have winds greater than 136 mph.

More damage in #Mayflower, AR pic.twitter.com/9WOW4aiFuF

— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) April 28, 2014

A very significant way, indeed, for the residents who will face the damage on Monday as the sun rises to reveal what is left of their lives. Karla Ault, a Vilonia High School volleyball coach, took shelter in the school’s gym when the sirens went off. Her husband then got in contact with her as the storm passed and told her that the twister had reduced their home and everything in it to a bare slab.

“I’m just kind of numb. It’s just shock that you lost everything. You don’t understand everything you have until you realize that all I’ve got now is just what I have on,” Ault said.

President Obama made a promise from a press conference in the Philippines that the government will do all that it can in helping the people get back on their feet after last night’s terrifying storms.

Image Via YouTube