A storm chaser has rescued a tiny kitten from the wreckage of a tornado-ravaged trailer park in Mississippi. Ashton Lemley heard the faint meow of the animal while navigating debris in the early hours of Thursday morning in Bogue Chitto, where at least three tornadoes had caused widespread destruction.
Lemley, who has been chasing storms since 2010, initially feared the kitten had died when the meowing stopped. However, after five minutes, the sound returned. He dug through insulation from a collapsed wall and found the kitten, wet and terrified, huddled between two wooden posts. Lemley captured the moment on video, reassuring the kitten: “We’ll get you cleaned up, baby. Don’t you worry.”
The kitten appeared uninjured. Lemley handed it to the commander of the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer disaster-response group, who dried it off and took it to safety. Lemley said there has been significant interest from people wanting to adopt the kitten if its owners are not found, with some suggesting the name “Tornado.” However, Lemley cannot keep it himself as he is allergic to cats.
The tornadoes flattened most of the two dozen homes in the trailer park, injuring a dozen people. Scott Simmons, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the injuries. National Weather Service meteorologist Daniel Lamb said at least three tornadoes caused significant damage, with surveys ongoing to determine if more touched down. Governor Tate Reeves posted online: “Pray for Mississippi,” noting that the state Emergency Management Agency was coordinating response efforts.
Debris from the storms closed parts of Interstate 55 and many other roads in Lincoln County. The governor said a volunteer rescue group was providing a 50-person shelter and supplies to the county, which reported at least 200 damaged homes. Lamar County to the southeast reported about 275 homes damaged.
