It is another day of destructive and potentially deadly storms in the midwest.   A tornado touched down in Pettis County, Missouri and authorities there say the city of Sedalia was hit hard.

Homes have been destroyed and trucks overturned by a tornado that heavily damaged a school bus barn and
left at least 15 people with minor injuries in the west-central Missouri community of Sedalia. A Sutherland’s store lost part of its roof and some displays

Widespread debris were seen from a helicopter in a subdivision where large sections of homes were ripped apart and mobile homes left on their sides.

A spokeswoman for Bothwell Regional Health Center says 15 people were taken to the hospital after the storm with minor injuries.

Pettis County Emergency Management Director Dave Clippert is asking people to stay away from damaged neighborhoods because sightseers are getting in the way of emergency responders.

Some 20-thousand people live in Sedalia.  Witnesses say the twister cut a path nearly a quarter mile wide, and a half mile long, taking out trees and power poles along the way.  Officials say many homes and businesses are in ruins.  Acting Police Chief Larry Ward describes extensive damage on the city’s south side.  Ward says some buildings were completely destroyed.  A car lot lost a lot of windows and windshields.

There are power and telephone lines down throughout the south side of Sedalia.  Chief Ward says a number of motorists were driving around the city Wednesday afternoon, complicating the relief effort.