Diary of a Disaster

March 31, 2023, severe thunderstorms tore through the U.S. Midwest and Mid-South where they spawned dozens of tornadoes across seven states. Some of the hardest-hit areas were in Arkansas, including the town of Wynne.

It was a rough start to the year in the Southern U.S. The outbreak of tornadoes on March 31 came one week after deadly tornadoes swept through Mississippi and Alabama. Both events followed an outbreak of tornadoes in January 2023 that hit central Alabama particularly hard.

Now, a little over a year later, life has gone on in the Wynne community. The rebuilding has been a process and some are still picking up the pieces – both literally and metaphorically. Within these pages, we will recount the events of that fateful day, through both words and pictures, take a look at the history of deadly and dangerous storms in Arkansas and surrounding areas – including a recent reminder this past Memorial Day weekend about how destructive nature can be – and relive some off the moments from 2023 in this Diary of a Disaster.

Ralph Hardin, Editor The Evening Times O n

TOP COVER PHOTO: The remains of Wynne High School following the devastating tornado that struck the community on March 31, 2023. Fortunately, school was not in session when the twister tore through the community.

Top cover photo by Don Wilburn

BELOW COVER PHOTOS AND PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE: A few scenes of the aftermath of the tornado and violent storms.

PMG file photos / Submitted photos / Facebook