Initial reports suggest as many as 19 tornadoes hit Missouri over the weekend. Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Office said the twisters left widespread destruction in 27 Missouri counties – killing at least 12 people and leaving one person missing.

Nine of the 12 fatalities reported during last week's severe weather outbreak occurred in Wayne and Ozark counties.

Unusually vicious and damaging weather across multiple U.S. states spawned violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires over the weekend, leaving at least 39 people dead. In the latest tally of the destruction,

Violent storms and tornadoes have been ravaging the U.S. for several days. At least 34 people have died, and dozens more have been injured. In Alabama, a tornado swept up a school bus, which crashed into a high school building,