Twisters Kill 4, Devastate City

Firefighters went from house to demolished house Monday, searching for more victims of tornadoes that killed four people, including three children, and smashed hundreds of homes.

“I just started praying,” said Leisa Didway, who rode out the storm Sunday night in her closet with a friend and the friend’s 1-year-old son. “I held her and the baby. I was just praying to God because I didn’t know what else to do.”

The twisters ripped through Fort Smith’s historic district and the suburb of Van Buren, sweeping some houses off their foundations, before roaring on to St. Paul, a rural community 50 miles away. At least 50 people were injured and more than 330 left homeless.

State troopers patrolled Fort Smith to guard against looters after five people who police said were about to start looting were arrested and charged with prowling. The National Guard ordered 45 members to report for duty.

The Red Cross said 636 houses, 30 apartment units and 217 businesses were damaged. Of those, 35 houses, five apartments and 78 businesses were beyond repair. Damage was put in the millions of dollars.