People pray outside of Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood on Friday, May 16, 2025, as they wait for rescuers to reach a woman trapped in the rubble of the church after a tornado struck. She was later found dead inside.
Patricia Penelton
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Michelle Higgins, left, and Andrew Gibson embrace outside Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood on Friday, May 16, 2025. Patricia Penelton was killed when a tornado brought the church bell tower and much of the church roof crashing down, trapping her and two other people.
Patricia and Harry Penelton. Photo courtesy of the Penelton family.Â
Photos and video: St. Louisans sort through rubble a day after likely EF-3 tornado ravages area
"I have never seen anything like this," said Jerikah McCloud, 23, seen in the destroyed second story of her family home on Kensington Street, in the Academy neighborhood of St. Louis, on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
“My house is just gone, and it was beautiful,†said Curtis McGrath, who retrieves some personal papers, photos and clothes from his home of 18 years on Enright Avenue on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy neighborhood. The National Weather Service has confirmed that it was a tornado, possibly an EF-3, that hit St. Louis the day before.
“My house is just gone and it was beautiful,†said Curtis McGrath, who climbs stairs to retrieve some photos and clothes from his tornado-damaged home of 18 years on Enright Avenue on May 17, in the Academy neighborhood of St. Louis. The city asked that Ameren disconnect power going to buildings that inspectors have determined are unsafe, Mayor Cara Spencer said.
John McCloud clears out his his family home on the 5200 block of Kensington Street on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy Neighborhood. McCloud has lived there for 24 years.
“I grew up in this community. People need help and we are helping,†said Cornelius Coleman, who uses a sledge hammer to break apart a tree blocking a resident’s home along Enright Avenue on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy neighborhood of St. Louis.
"This is going to bring St. Louis together," said Craig Cole Jr., who visits with his friend Tay, who dropped by to see how he was doing on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Fountain Park neighborhood of St. Louis. One day earlier, a tornado completely destroyed Cole's two story duplex on Page Avenue which is reduced to rubble in the background.
"This is a photo of my ex-wife and son. I was hoping to find a photo of my mother," said Curtis McGrath, who was able to retrieve a few personal items from his home of 18 years on Enright Avenue on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy Neighborhood.
Mariyah Guthrie advertises free food, drinks and essentials, alongside her relative Dolly, on May 16, 2025, in the Academy neighborhood of St. Louis.
"I had just said a prayer before it happened: Lord, please protect these people, please protect us," said homeowner Stella Hunt, 70, who cleans up her former two-story home along the 4500 block of St. Louis Place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Greater Ville neighborhood. Hunt has lived the Greater Ville for most of her life.
Adrian Abernethy helps remove a tree that destroyed his neighbor's garage and car on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy Neighborhood. Friday afternoon a tornado damaged several neighborhoods across the St. Louis metro area.
Workers tarp the roof of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, in the 200 block of South Skinker Boulevard, near sheared off trees lining the west side of Forest Park on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after a tornado the day before.
A person inside a car somehow survived a massive oak tree smashing her vehicle as she sat in the 300 block of North Skinker Blvd. near Forest Park Parkway as a tornado ripped through parts of St. Louis on Friday, May 16, 2025, killing 5, and causing widespread destruction from Clayton to north St. Louis. People out walking in the Parkview neighborhood surveyed the damage on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
A damaged original stained-glass window from 1925 sits inside the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center, in the 200 block of South Skinker Blvd. just west of Forest Park, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after the building was hit by winds from a tornado the day before. Jody Sowell, President and CEO, said no artifacts were damaged in either this building or the Missouri History Museum, both of which had roof damage. This building was formerly a synagogue.
A damaged original stained-glass window from 1925 sits inside the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center, in the 200 block of South Skinker Boulevard just west of Forest Park, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after the building was hit by winds from a tornado the day before. Jody Sowell, President and CEO, said no artifacts were damaged in either this building or the Missouri History Museum, both of which had roof damage.
Ryan Green of Rogers Construction helps board up a stained-glass window in the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center in the 200 block of South Skinker Boulevard just west of Forest Park on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after a tornado the day before. President and CEO Jody Sowell said no artifacts were damaged in either this building or the Missouri History Museum, both of which had roof damage.
"My house is just gone and it was beautiful," said Curtis McGrath, who removes a chests from his home of 18 years on Enright Avenue on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy Neighborhood. Friday afternoon a tornado damaged several neighborhoods across the St. Louis metro area.
"My house is just gone and it was beautiful," said Curtis McGrath, who retrieves some personal papers, photos and clothes from his home of 18 years on Enright Avenue on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the Academy Neighborhood. Friday afternoon a tornado damaged several neighborhoods across the St. Louis metro area.
