Accuweather reported deadly storms ripping through the central United States through the night of April 2, 2025, leaving a trail of destruction, widespread power outages, and at least four confirmed fatalities across multiple states. Tornadoes, hail, and severe flooding battered communities from Texas to Pennsylvania in one of the most intense severe weather outbreaks in recent years.

Catastrophic Damage in Tennessee

Daylight revealed staggering tornado damage in Selmer, Tennessee, located about 90 miles east of Memphis. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, vehicles tossed, and buildings destroyed. At least two tornadoes were confirmed in the region, and authorities believe more may have occurred, given the extensive damage and ongoing search for missing persons.

Three storm-related deaths have been reported in Tennessee: one in McNairy County (Selmer), one in Obion County, and another in Fayette County, where a tornado flipped a modular home, trapping and killing one individual. Several others were hospitalized. Emergency crews, including state troopers and firefighters, continue to comb through the wreckage in search of survivors.

Missouri Fatality Brings Death Toll to Four

In Missouri, one person died between Advance and Delta as storms surged across the state Wednesday night. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also confirmed a trooper was injured at his home in Advance but has since been released from the hospital.

A total of 27 tornadoes were reported in the last 24 hours. Early ratings include an EF0 in Bates County, an EF2 in Cooper County, and an EF1 in Vernon County.

Arkansas Devastated by Massive Tornado

Arkansas was slammed by a “large and destructive tornado” near Lake City on Wednesday evening, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a rare tornado emergency. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency, citing widespread storm damage across nearly twenty counties. Though four people were injured, there are no reported fatalities in Arkansas at this time.

Unprecedented Tornado Warnings and Severe Weather Alerts

The National Weather Service issued 728 warnings on Wednesday, the third-highest number ever recorded in a single day. This included 284 tornado warnings—also the third-highest in history. The concentration of warnings was most intense across western Tennessee, with tornado emergencies declared in both Arkansas and Tennessee.

Severe Weather Continues and More Threats Loom

Storms and heavy rain are ongoing across a 1,500-mile corridor from Texas to Pennsylvania. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that further severe weather, including tornadoes and flooding, is expected Thursday through Saturday. Tropical moisture originating from the Caribbean is contributing to excessive rainfall, raising concerns over basement flooding and compromised storm shelters.

Power Outages and Flooding Across Multiple States

More than 300,000 power outages were reported across several states as of Thursday morning:

• Indiana: 129,000
• Ohio: 80,000
• Kentucky: 42,810
• Tennessee: 18,606
• Arkansas: 25,000
• Missouri: 11,407
• Mississippi: 11,077

In Indianapolis, multiple vehicles were submerged in floodwaters, though no entrapments were reported. Officials urged residents to avoid driving through flooded roads.

World Insurance Associates LLC, a Top 50 Insurance Brokerage, has announced that it acquired the business of Royalty Insurance Services of Van Nuys, CA, on January 1, 2025. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Royalty has been providing commercial trucking insurance for over 23 years. They offer specialized insurance solutions for trucking businesses —from long-haul to local trucking. "At Royalty Insurance Services, personalization is key," says Oganes Sepuhyan, President, Royalty Insurance Services. "We realize insurance is more than a line-item expense—it is a vital part of our customers' business safety net, so we work with them to customize a plan that meets their unique insurance needs. We are excited to join World, who has its roots in the trucking industry, and we look forward to continuing to grow our business." "I would like to welcome Royalty to the World family," says Rich Eknoian, CEO and Co-Founder of World. "They are well known in the trucking industry, and they have an experienced team of insurance professionals dedicated to providing their customers with the best coverage at the best price. I know they will continue to be successful as part of World." Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla provided legal counsel and MarshBerry advised World on the transaction. Fennemore Law provided legal counsel to Royalty on the transaction. No other advisors, diligence firms, or legal counsel were disclosed. About World Insurance Associates LLC
World Insurance Associates (World) is a nationally ranked financial services organization headquartered in Iselin, N.J., that serves its clients from more than 300 offices across the U.S. and U.K. World's comprehensive network of brokers and specialists empower people to make informed decisions to improve their risk management outcomes, modernize their benefits programs, and help achieve their long-term financial goals. Using data-driven analytics, World's advisors innovate new products and solutions tailored to clients' needs across commercial and personal insurance and bonds, employee and executive benefits, wealth management and retirement plan services, private client services, and payroll & HR solutions. For more information, please visit www.worldinsurance.com.

Bamboo Insurance, a trusted customer-focused insurance provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Incline P&C Group, a leading insurance program carrier. This partnership leverages Bamboo's advanced underwriting platform and Incline's superior financial strength to bring additional capacity to the California market. Bamboo has established itself as the premier California underwriting franchise since launching in 2018, and will begin underwriting admitted and non-admitted homeowners programs with Incline effective immediately. Leveraging technology and data, Bamboo has been a solution for thousands of Californians since 2018. With this partnership, Bamboo and Incline are well-positioned to help more customers navigate the complexities of property insurance while delivering on a promise to provide transparent, reliable, and customer-centered solutions. "The challenges facing the California insurance market are undisputed. The Bamboo team takes great pride in finding solutions that meet the needs of our customers in these difficult times," said John Chu, CEO of Bamboo Insurance. "This partnership will provide affordable insurance coverage for hundreds of thousands of Californians in the coming years. At Bamboo, we want California to know that we were here before the crisis, have remained open, and are committed to being a solution in future – we are here for good. The Incline partnership is a major step forward in delivering on that commitment." "Incline is excited to partner with Bamboo, an industry leader with vast experience in the homeowner's space," said Incline President and CEO Chris McClellan. "Such characteristics pair well with our team's experience, underwriting discipline, and premier risk management expertise. We look forward to a long and productive partnership." California homeowners can start their quote by visiting bambooinsurance.com or by calling (833) 922-6266. Independent agents can learn more about offering the product by emailing bamboo@bambooinsurance.com. About Bamboo Insurance Bamboo Insurance is a modern, customer-focused insurance provider dedicated to simplifying the insurance experience. While we leverage technology as a tool to streamline processes, our true difference lies in our commitment to being a human-first company. We take the time to understand our customers' needs, offer transparent solutions, and provide a personal touch in everything we do. Bamboo is a Managing General Agency licensed to sell property-casualty insurance products; NPN 18657046; CA License #0M31082. Through a customer-centered approach, Bamboo is transforming the way people think about and interact with their insurance. For more information, visit www.bambooinsurance.com. About Incline Property & Casualty Group Incline P&C Group is privately owned and operated with an exclusive focus on the program insurance market. Incline has a team of over 90 employees; headquartered in Austin, TX with offices in Dallas, TX. Incline's executive team's experience and expertise combined with effective underwriting discipline and risk management enables Incline to carry an A- (excellent) rating from AM Best and Financial Size Category of VIII. For more information on Incline P&C Group, visit https://inclinepc.com/.