Six Killed in Two-Day Tornado Outbreak

More than 75 tornadoes ripped through the central United States on Saturday and Sunday. The storms killed six people and left 29 injured. The fatalities occurred when a tornado touched down in Woodward, Oklahoma, killing three adults and three young girls.

The outbreak of twisters destroyed homes and businesses and damaged a hospital, a jail, an Air Force base and other structures. Severe storms were also reported in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, where about 75 percent of the small town of Thurman was destroyed.

The extreme weather comes on top of America’s worst drought since 2007, with 61 percent of the continental United States in a drought. In 2011, the drought caused at least $10 billion in agricultural losses across Texas and the Southern U.S. As the drought continues, 2012 could bring even greater losses.

God promised the modern-day nations of Israel that if they obeyed His commandments, He would bless them with “rain in due season.” Leviticus 26 says that this rain would cause the land to yield its increase and the trees to yield their fruit. God also said that He would use His power over the weather to allow devastating droughts and other curses if these nations refused to obey Him. For more information about why we experience weather problems, read “Why Natural Disasters.”