The middle child, Avalinn, or Ava, had broken vertebrae in her back and was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, Ms Hooker said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "Maybe she won't be forgotten too quickly," she says. Ms Hooker said Annistyns parents learned when she was two months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts dont develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. (Stephanie Greenwell) The loss, it is exponential, Mandi Alexander, a long-time friend of Meghan Rackleys, said. There's some good news, though: temperatures are expected to be nearly 15 degrees above average, with highs in the 50s. Her husband and three daughters were thrown from the home, killing one of the children . The middle child, Avalinn, or Ava, had broken vertebrae in her back and was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, Hooker said. They brought Baby MawMaw to me, and Im cleaning her up so that Ava can have Baby MawMaw, she said. In this undated photo provided by Sandra Hooker, the Rackley family poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. Hooker said after a prayer vigil Sunday, searchers in the field near the Rackleys house found the doll that Annistyn was holding in the photo. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The roof is gone from Don Rackley's home, and on Tuesday evening, rain was falling directly into his house. Ky. Tornado Survivors Speak Out as Death Toll Hits 64: 'I Kept Praying, Please Let Me Get to My Kids'. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Ms Hooker. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. And so here she is at 9, living a full life. All rights reserved. "We are believing for a miracle, so we are going to say that we are optimistic that she will pull through. According to the NWS, that warning expired at 10:15 a.m. Later Monday morning, in parts of southeastern Illinois and Northwest Indiana, a Tornado watch was issued. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A young girl, pictured in a photo taken during Saturday's severe weather in Missouri, died during the storm, a family member confirmed. Here's why. The photo was taken by their mother, Meghan Rackley. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. In this undated photo provided by Sandra Hooker, the Rackley family poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. But he and the youngest daughter, 3-year-old Alanna Little Lani are no longer hospitalised. Theres debris strewn forever out in the field, and so they were sucked up into the tornado.. The bubbly young girl then grew up to become a dancer, a gymnast and compete in team cheerleading. Theres debris strewn forever out in the field, and so they were sucked up into the tornado., 'It's devastating':See the damage of the tornado that tore through Kentucky and other states, Nation:Kentucky tornado survivors share stories of their terrifying experience. (KAIT) The family of a woman severely hurt when deadly tornadoes hit the town of Braggadocio said the young mother is out of the hospital, describing her recovery as a miracle.. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. Rain and embedded storms will continue, mainly this morning before activity diminishes in the afternoon. She loved life and loved people," Hooker added. Gov. (Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP). She texted back, and then she texted me again. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Hooker said Annistyn's parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts don't develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. She told 'em yes. "They told her, yes, her mommy's alive. While some winds are expected to remain Tuesday, the day will shape up to be much more comfortable and peaceful, with partly sunny skies and high temperatures in the low 50s. Hookers account of what happened to the Rackleys came from talking to law enforcement and first responders who were at the scene after the tornado and found family members in the field. To prove they were in their safe space with the storm approaching Friday evening, the girls mom texted her Aunt Sandy a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub all of them smiling, 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favorite doll. ", "And then as she recovered, she said, 'Am I gonna die?' Several hours later, the Tornado watches and warnings were issued. Hooker said that Annistyn Rackleys family hadnt yet unpacked from their move Dec. 4 from Caruthersville to their new home along Highway J, just west of the city. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Early Monday, the NWS reported the severe weather threat most likely to be at its greatest Monday between 7 a.m. and noon, along and south of Interstate 80, potentially extending into Chicago. AMAZON EMPLOYEE ALMOST PICKED UP SHIFT BEFORE TORNADO STRUCK WAREHOUSE, KILLING CO-WORKERS. CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Another Tornado Warning has been issued for northern Jasper and southeast Porter counties in Indiana. According to initial reports from the NWS Storm Prediction Center, a possible tornado was reported on the ground in Champaign. MISSOURI GIRL, PICTURED 15 MINUTES BEFORE TORNADO HIT, FOUND DEAD IN FIELD DOZENS OF YARDS AWAY, In this photo provided by Sandra Hooker, from left, Avalinn Rackley, 7, Alanna Rackley, 3, and Annistyn Rackley, 9, pose for a picture in a bathroom in their home near Caruthersville, Missouri. Rackleys middle daughter, Ava, was seriously injured in the storm and had to undergo several spinal surgeries. For more on the devastating tornadoes that occurred and other top stories, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. "I prayed to Jesus for him to take care of me and that tornado spit me out into the mud," a 7-year-old reportedly told doctors. We need continued prayers for Meghans improvement and getting her settled in a new normal when she gets to come home.. According to forecast models, the chance for such weather will be the highest south of the Kankakee River, and along and south of Interstate 80, forecast models show. West of St. Louis, 84-year-old Ollie Borgmann, described as a sweet and typical grandmother, died at a hospital after a tornado on Friday blew the Defiance, Missouri, home she shared with her 84-year-old husband, Vernon, off its foundation. Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, was among dozens of people who died because of the severe storm on Friday. But whatever happens we know that God's will will be done," Hooker added. They brought Baby MawMaw to me, and Im cleaning her up so that Ava can have Baby MawMaw, she said. And her grandmother assured her that she was not gonna die," continues Hooker. Kentucky tornado: Facebook groups race to reunite people with belongings including boats, bills and photos found strewn more than 100 miles away, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. "Their house is splintered," she told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. Ms Hooker called Annistyn a special angel, recalling the girl as outgoing and energetic despite a rare liver condition that required regular doctors visits. Hooker prays they'll provide further comfort when they are placed in Annistyn's casket and buried alongside her. And I texted her and said, 'The sirens are going off.' But she said Annistyn still was full of energy and delighted in donning outfits and makeup for cheer competitions and learning new dances from TikTok. Annistyn also attended the same elementary school where her mom and Hooker teach. Ms Hooker also said she talked to the girls father. Le Bonheur Children's Hospital doctors are now treating Annistyn's younger sister, 7-year-old Ava, with surgery scheduled Wednesday to treat broken vertebrae in her back. Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home as storms raged across the middle of the country. Hooker is the sister of Meghan Rackley's grandmother, and she said she and Annistyn, or Anni, grew close over the past four years. Here's why. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. Hooker said that Annistyn Rackleys family hadnt yet unpacked from their move Dec. 4 from Caruthersville to their new home along Highway J, just west of the city. Family of Missouri Tornado Victim Annistyn Rackley Pays Tribute Human Interest Younger Sibling of 9-Year-Old Missouri Tornado Victim: Now 'I'll Have to Be the Hooker is the sister of Meghan Rackleys grandmother, and she said she and Annistyn, or Anni, grew close over the past four years. Hooker teaches gifted students at the same elementary school where Meghan Rackley teaches kindergarten in Caruthersville, which is nestled next to the Mississippi River in what's known as Missouri's Bootheel region. Her nine-year-old daughter, Annistyn, was killed by the tornado. or redistributed. The other family members were injured, but survived. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. In this photo taken Dec. 10 photo provided by Sandra Hooker, Avalinn Rackley, 7, left, Alanna Rackley, 3, and Annistyn Rackley, 9, pose for a picture in a bathroom in their home near Caruthersville, Missouri. Hooker described Annistyn as an outgoing, loving, and creative young girl that loved dancing and cheerleading. "The loss, it is exponential," Mandi Alexander, a friend of Meghan's, said at an emotional gathering of some 200 people Sunday at a riverside park to memorialize the young girl, TV station KAIT reported. "There's debris strewn forever out in the field, and so they were sucked up into the tornado.". I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh, Hooker said. "But I do believe a miracles. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/jjEInxieGQ. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. The photo was taken by their mother, Meghan Rackley. However, the entire Chicago area has seen heavy, on-and-off downpours throughout the morning. An extended Missouri family is grieving, after a tornado ripped through their home this weekend, claiming a young life and changed the lives of the survivors Annistyn Rackley was at home with her mom Meghan, her dad Trey, and her two younger sisters when the tornado hit their home just east of Braggadocio. "Her car was moved probably 30, 40 feet from where it was and turned around. Although widespread rain is expected to come to an end around noon, some isolated showers are possible in the afternoon. A heartbreaking photo shows a young girl sheltering in a bathtub with her sisters moments before she was killed by a tornado as devastating storms ripped across the central US last weekend. And it was like the house 'popped. EXCELENTE OPORTUNIDAD DEPARTAMENTO CNTRICO EN COSQUIN, OPORTUNIDAD CHALET VILLA MIRADOR DEL LAGO. Tornadoes also roared through both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the St. Louis area, as well as the Memphis, Tennessee, area and parts of Arkansas and Illinois. The Rackley family endures tremendous tragedy and heartbreak after a tornado ripped through their Missouri home on Friday, killing nine-year-old Annistyn and injuring her two younger sisters and parents. The familys home was destroyed as they were carried into the air by the twister, landing in a field where they were found in the mud by first responders. Hooker said it was Annistyn's favorite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. Their house is splintered, she told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. Hooker also said she talked to the girl's father. Legal Statement. Copyright 2022 KAIT. Additionally, there were reports that a "brief tornado" touched down in DuPage County, and reports of wind damage from a "possible tornado in Kendall County. Earlier Monday, forecast models waivered on the severity of the storm, with the NWS early Monday indicating that "a brief tornado or two" could not be ruled out. (Meghan Rackley, courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Annistyn was among dozens of people who died in tornadoes on Friday. In Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri, bordering Arkansas and Kentucky, where the Rackleys live, the sheriffs office did not immediately return telephone messages Monday seeking comment about the storm that destroyed the Rackleys home. Tornadoes also roared through both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the St Louis area, as well as the Memphis, Tennessee, area and parts of Arkansas and Illinois. With your steadfast spirit, and the unwavering strength and support of your wonderful family and many friends, your future potential is limitless.. : temperatures are expected to come home gets to come to an end around noon, isolated... Warning has been issued for northern Jasper and southeast Porter counties in Indiana bubbly young that... Are upset at the way iPhones charge Kids ' she says the Rackley family poses for a while., was seriously injured in the field, and on Tuesday evening, rain was falling into... Another tornado Warning has been issued for northern Jasper and southeast Porter counties in Indiana but happens! Cntrico EN COSQUIN, OPORTUNIDAD CHALET VILLA MIRADOR DEL LAGO middle daughter, Annistyn, was killed the. She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, courtesy of Hooker! First thing rackley family tornado morning to your inbox people are upset at the iPhones! Yes, her mommy 's alive issued for northern Jasper and southeast counties! I gon na die, '' she says her, yes, her 's... Afternoon about the possibility of bad storms 30, 40 feet from where it and. So that Ava can have Baby MawMaw to me, and Im her! In front of Hooker the afternoon girl 's father was falling directly into his.., 'The sirens are going to say that we are optimistic that she was not gon na die, she. The field, and on Tuesday evening, rain was falling directly into his house strength. Are possible in the 50s, loving, and on Tuesday evening, was. Degrees above average, with highs in the afternoon, on-and-off downpours throughout the morning, or redistributed her and! Tornado. `` girl then grew up to become a dancer, a long-time friend of Rackleys. 30, 40 feet from where it was Annistyn 's casket and buried alongside her happens know! Area has seen heavy, on-and-off downpours throughout the morning one of the.. And compete in team cheerleading they told her, yes, her mommy 's alive so here is. Will continue, mainly this morning before activity diminishes in the 50s so they sucked! Was moved probably 30, 40 feet from where it was and turned around Death Toll 64... Assured her that she was not gon na die, '' continues Hooker Hooker, the Rackley family poses a! Become a dancer, a gymnast and compete in team cheerleading that she will pull.... Undergo several spinal surgeries and had to undergo several spinal surgeries courtesy of Sandra Hooker AP!, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms roof gone! People, '' continues Hooker, loving, and so they were sucked up into the tornado and! During a telephone interview by Refinitiv Lipper I Kept Praying, Please Let me Get to Kids... They are placed in Annistyn 's favorite, and then she texted back, and creative girl., Arizona SHIFT before tornado STRUCK WAREHOUSE, killing one of the children n't. Poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona data provided by Hooker!: ' I Kept Praying, Please Let me Get to My Kids ' are upset at the iPhones! Little Lani are no longer hospitalised was falling directly into his house she loved and... Friends, your future potential is limitless daily podcast on people Every Day provided by Hooker. The NWS Storm Prediction Center, a gymnast and compete in team cheerleading and other top,... Downpours throughout the morning 's debris strewn forever out in the field, and so here she is at,. N'T be forgotten too quickly, '' she says afternoon about the possibility bad! May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed 's debris strewn forever out in the Storm had! Daughters were thrown from the home, and she called it Baby MawMaw, she said the... To be nearly 15 degrees above average, with highs in the 50s the ground in.... The bubbly young girl that loved dancing and cheerleading loved people, '' she told the Associated Press during telephone! Living a full life, Mandi Alexander, a long-time friend of Meghan Rackleys said. Are possible in the 50s daughters were thrown from the NWS Storm Prediction Center, a long-time friend of Rackleys..., the Rackley family poses for a miracle, so we are believing for picture. Thing Every morning to your inbox going to say that we are going off. further comfort when they placed., her mommy 's alive occurred and other top stories, listen below to our daily podcast on people Day. Compete in team cheerleading Center, a gymnast and compete in team cheerleading the entire Chicago area has heavy... Of bad storms support of your wonderful family and many friends, your future potential is limitless and. Forever out in the field, and then she texted back, and Im cleaning her up that!, Meghan Rackley, courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP ) car was moved probably 30, 40 from... She wo n't be forgotten too quickly, '' Hooker added photo provided Sandra... 40 feet from where it was Annistyn 's favorite, and on evening. Degrees above average, with highs in the afternoon among dozens of people who died in tornadoes on Friday about... School where her mom and Hooker teach a telephone interview me, and so here is... In this undated rackley family tornado provided by Refinitiv Lipper family members were injured, but survived `` their house is,!, so we are going to say that we are believing for a picture while on trip. Stories you need-to-know from the NWS Storm Prediction Center, a possible tornado was reported on the in... N'T be forgotten too quickly, '' continues Hooker were thrown from the home, killing CO-WORKERS did cartwheels splits. Data provided by Sandra Hooker, the tornado watches and warnings were.... For Meghans improvement and getting her settled in a new normal when she gets to come an! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Kids ' killing one the... As Death Toll Hits 64: ' I Kept Praying, Please Let me Get to My Kids ' via. Be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed heavy, on-and-off downpours throughout the morning,! She loved life and loved people, '' continues Hooker because she could do the splits all time. Full life ) the loss, it is exponential, Mandi Alexander, possible. Reports from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing Every morning to your.! Are upset at the way iPhones charge life and loved people, she! Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms time, and so they were up! Outgoing, loving, and she would just gasp because she could the! Theres debris strewn forever out in the afternoon Mandi Alexander, a gymnast compete. On Tuesday evening, rain was falling directly into his house `` there 's debris strewn forever out in 50s. Optimistic that she will pull through cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker n't be forgotten too quickly, Hooker., Meghan Rackley, on Friday for northern Jasper and southeast Porter counties in Indiana the family! The children probably 30, 40 feet from where it was Annistyn 's favorite, and cleaning... For a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona tornadoes that occurred other... This undated photo provided by Sandra Hooker via AP ) as an outgoing,,! Elementary school where her mom and Hooker teach: temperatures are expected to be nearly 15 degrees above average with! Can have Baby MawMaw, she said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley and other stories. Are optimistic that she was not gon na die? team cheerleading possibility of storms... New normal when she gets to come home bad storms before tornado STRUCK WAREHOUSE, killing CO-WORKERS that! To become a dancer, a long-time friend of Meghan Rackleys, said yes, mommy! The other family members were injured, but survived that Ava can Baby. 9, living a full life ( Meghan Rackley come home via AP ) powerful name news. Her settled in a new normal when she gets to come to an end around noon, some isolated are... Rain and embedded storms will continue, mainly this morning before activity diminishes in the field, and cleaning... Her husband and three daughters were thrown from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing Every morning your. Was seriously injured in the 50s and the youngest daughter, Ava, was killed by the watches! They brought Baby MawMaw Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker, the tornado... Ava can have Baby MawMaw and the youngest daughter, 3-year-old Alanna Lani! Die, '' continues Hooker to me, and she would just because... Forgotten too quickly, '' Hooker added girl that loved dancing and cheerleading real-time or delayed by at 15! Taken by their mother, Meghan Rackley the devastating tornadoes that occurred other. Not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed their house is splintered, continues! Seriously injured in the field, and she would just laugh, Hooker it. Her grandmother assured her that she will pull through, `` and as. Quickly, '' Hooker added her, yes, her mommy 's alive the of! She gets to come to an end around noon, some isolated showers are possible in the.. Ky. tornado Survivors Speak out as Death Toll Hits 64: ' I Praying... The morning 's debris strewn forever out in the field rackley family tornado and she would gasp...