Scenes From the Midwest Tornadoes

As a “super-cell” of tornadoes passed across the U.S. Midwest and South last week, small towns in southern Indiana, eastern Kentucky, and Ohio were hit the hardest. Following on the heels of February 29’s damaging tornadoes, the March 2 twisters were caused by massive thunderstorms that spawned winds that lifted cars off the ground, ripped homes from their foundations, and left at least 39 deadacross five states.

According to The Weather Channel,279 warnings were issued,with an area of “high risk” spanning four states.

Many of the affected areas are still rebuilding from last spring’s deadly tornadoes. Cleanup crews are continuing to work in the affected areas as residents mourn and begin to understand the scope of the damage. The following photos depict the aftermath from some of the most hard-hit towns. Click ahead for scenes from the Midwest tornadoes.

By Paul Toscano
Posted 5 March 2012

A school bus is lodged in a home where it came to rest after being tossed by a tornado in Henryville, Ind.

A car sits under a collapsed section of a local school after a tornado ripped through Henryville, Ind. Dozens of people were killed as severe weather and tornados ripped through the South and Midwest.

Amando Gomez salvages what he can from his family’s home, which was destroyed by a tornado on March 4, 2012, in Marysville, Ind.

Volunteers wait for a backhoe to move a pile of debris as they look for items to salvage from a home that was destroyed by the past week’s deadly tornadoes.

Debris from Friday’s EF4 tornado — the second-most powerful tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — remains scattered around a home in Henryville, Ind. At least 39 deaths have been reported from the storm, including four in Henryville.

Lori Hall searches for items to salvage in the home of her aunt and uncle after it was destroyed by Friday’s EF4 tornado.

Pam Hogan and her rescue dog Bart search a collapsed home for victims of the devastating tornadoes.

Workers begin to remove debris from the grounds of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on March 1, 2012, in Ridgeway, Ill. The 110-year-old church was completely destroyed after it was struck by a tornado the night before.

Kristin Allen searches for valuables in her mother’s home after it was destroyed by a tornado in Harrisburg, Ill.

Ethan Parks help to salvage items after a tornado destroyed the barn on the farm of his great-great uncle on March 1, 2012, near Harrisburg, Ill.

The foundation is all that remains of a home after a tornado tore through a neighborhood, killing several people in the early morning hours of Feb. 29, 2012, in Harrisburg, Ill.

Josh Summers and his wife Lindsey search for their possessions after a tornado ripped through their neighborhood in the early morning hours of Feb. 29, 2012, in Harrisburg, Ill.

Vehicles and other possessions are scattered after a tornado ripped through a neighborhood in the early morning hours of Feb. 29, 2012, in Harrisburg, Ill.

John Bonenberger looks at debris after a tornado damaged a strip mall where his business was located on Feb. 29, 2012, in Harrisburg, Ill.