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.

Torn roofs, bent poles and all sorts of debris piled in front of buildings in Butler, Missouri on Saturday (March 15) after a series of tornadoes hit the U.S. Midwest and Southeast overnight, killing at least 14 people.

"The scale of devastation across our state is staggering," Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said. "While we grieve the lives of those lost, we are also focused on action."

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

Tornadoes hammered Missouri on Friday night, ripping apart homes, businesses, and the electrical system. Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Office says at least 12 people have been killed and one person is still missing from the severe weather.

Communities across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana were devastated by the deadliest and longest-running tornado ever recorded a century ago. Here's what happened.

At least 18 people are dead across three states following a widespread and dangerous severe weather outbreak, which started on Friday.