Severe Storms Leave Trail of Destruction in Villa Ridge

Villa Ridge, Mo. (KFMO) - The damage from Friday night's storms extended to Villa Ridge, a community about 45 minutes west of St. Louis.

Powerful winds overturned tractor-trailers, tore apart buildings, and left families picking up the pieces of their homes. Dan Landstrom, a truck driver caught in the storm, sought shelter inside the cab of his rig. Despite his efforts, another truck was pushed into his vehicle by the forceful winds. Landstrom watched as a nearby gas station and restaurant were torn apart by the twister.

In a nearby neighborhood, families ran for their basements as the storm roared through. Joy Astu and her children emerged to find the entire second floor of their home destroyed.

Homes were reduced to rubble, and cars lay crushed under fallen trees. Unfortunately, some residents lacked insurance coverage, making the road to recovery even more challenging. Local authorities and aid organizations are working to provide assistance to those affected.

According to the National Weather Service, this was an EF-2 tornado.