A tornado struck Little Rock AFB, late Monday, injuring three people, battering three C-130s, and damaging more than 40 homes, base spokesman SrA. Jim Araos told the Daily Report. All three people suffered only minor injuries and have received medical treatment. Officials are still trying to determine the full extent of the damage to the C-130s, something they won’t be able to determine until they take apart the aircraft and examine them, Araos said. The majority of the destruction happened in the base housing area. The tornado literally split some houses in half, tore the roof off of others, and tossed entire trees through rooms. Base officials have placed families whose homes were damaged in temporary lodging until they can find a new home, said Araos. The base exchange and the commissary also received “extensive damage” and remain closed, he said. Cars were flipped during the tornado and continue to litter the base. The National Weather Service is calling for more severe weather in Little Rock through Wednesday, including the possibility of another tornado.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.