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domingo, 24 de abril de 2011

Planes land again at tornado-hit St. Louis airport


By the CNN Wire Staff
April 24, 2011 -- Updated 0609 GMT (1409 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Several flights land at the main airport in St. Louis
  • Governor says it's astounding that there were no deaths or life-threatening injuries
  • Friday's storm system damages 750 homes, the governor says
  • It could take months to repair damage at the airport

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See more on the story from CNN affiliates KMOV, KSDK, KTVI and KPLR.

(CNN) -- The main airport in St. Louis, Missouri, expects its first departures Sunday after a tornado struck, knocking out power, shattering windows and sending passengers scrambling for cover from falling debris.

A handful of incoming flights touched down Saturday night for the first time after the powerful tornado hit Friday.

The twister left behind "an incredible trail of devastation," the National Weather Service said.

No deaths or life-threatening injuries were reported western Missouri communities as crews worked to restart power, conduct safety checks and clean up the damage.

The plan is to have the Lambert-St. Louis Airport at 70% capacity Sunday morning, said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

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Nine inbound AirTran, Delta and Southwest flights were scheduled to arrive Saturday night, the airport announced in a news release.

Airport officials said activities at some terminals will resume Sunday, despite the fact that about 50% of windows were blown out in Concourse C.

Concourse C -- the airport's main terminal -- is used by American Airlines, Frontier, AirTran and Cape Air.

It could take a "couple of months" to fully repair the damage, said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, the airport director

Preliminary estimates show that a tornado packing winds between 111 and 165 miles per hour hit the airport, said Wes Browning, a chief meteorologist for the weather service.

The tornado damaged 750 homes, Gov. Jay Nixon said.

There were no fatalities reported.

It's "absolutely amazing" that it tore through an airport and highly populated areas and there were no fatalities, Nixon said. "We're talking property, we're not talking about loss of life because of this. That is nothing short of astounding."

About 26,000 people remained without power Saturday evening compared with 47,000 soon after the storm hit, said Tom Voss, president of the regional power company Ameren.

Shelters have been set up and other assistance has been offered to the many families affected by the disaster, said Charlie Dooley, the St. Louis county executive.

"The look in their eyes (shows that) they think their life has been completely destroyed," said Dooley, urging volunteers to come out and help. "Folks, that is devastating."

Besides damage to home and the airport, the strong winds also hit businesses and tore through the roof of a Ferguson church, where dozens had gathered on Good Friday to watch the movie "Passion of the Christ."

Congregants unhurt, grateful after tornado hits Missouri church

"We felt this vacuum, and then there was so much noise," said congregant Nancy Doggett.

They came up later from the basement to see the ceiling smashed in the sanctuary. Two large Christian crosses remained intact despite the tornado.

"To have this kind of damage, we're just glad no one was hurt," minister Stacy Garner said. "Buildings can be replaced, but lives cannot."

At least five shelters had been established around the region for those displaced by the tornado. Major highways were open, but officials advised people to stay away from damaged neighborhoods, where searchers were going door to door.

Officials said inspections of buildings will take several days and hauling off debris will take longer.







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