LAKE CITY, AR — A powerful F3 tornado tore through Lake City on Wednesday, prompting a local family to flee their home with just minutes to spare as the destructive storm intensified. The tornado, described by witnesses as rapidly growing from a thin funnel into a “monster with multiple vortexes,” caused widespread damage across the area.
Key Points
- An Arkansas family fled an incoming F3 tornado that struck Lake City on Wednesday.
- The twister narrowly missed their home but caused major damage to nearby properties.
- A family member, a local fireman, assisted with rescue efforts following the storm.
Narrow escape as tornado shifted north
The incident, captured on video by one of the family members, shows the group escaping in a vehicle along with their dogs as the tornado approached. “It went from a small needle to an absolute monster with multiple vortexes in a matter of minutes,” said the witness, who was with her fiancé and his family during the escape.
Without access to a storm shelter and unwilling to risk staying inside the home’s hallway, the group made the split-second decision to evacuate. As the tornado approached, it shifted slightly north, narrowly missing their residence.
First responder aids in aftermath
Despite the near miss, damage in the area was severe. The family quickly returned after the tornado passed to assist with recovery. The fiancé’s father, a firefighter, joined local emergency crews to help those trapped or injured in the aftermath.
“You could hear the sheer panic and sadness in our voices, mainly for our community being actively hit with such devastation,” the witness said.