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. Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, was among dozens of people who died because of the severe storm on Friday. On the right, the Rackley family poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. 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. Although widespread rain is expected to come to an end around noon, some isolated showers are possible in the afternoon. To prove they were in their safe space with the storm approaching, 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 favourite doll. 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 "He immediately got up and started trying to find his family, because there's not a better daddy in this world, not a better husband, even though he has a broken vertebrae and a broken rib and all these cuts and abrasions and things on his body," Hooker says. 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. 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. Girl sheltering with family killed in tornado. Those included one in far western Joliet and one on the far north side of Naperville. "And he's been shaken terribly from the tornado. "Then she said, 'Then I'll have to be the big sister to Lani.'". She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Trey was flung by the howling winds into the wet mud. 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 As the tornado threw him outside, Rackley said he held on to his youngest daughter - 3-year-old Lani - and braced for impact. 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. Here's why. (Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP). A MOM took a heartbreaking final snap of her daughter holding onto her favorite doll to show she was safe before a series of deadly tornadoes hit the Midwest. The body of Annistyn Rackley, nine, was found in a field after the twister devastated her parents' home near Caruthersville, southeast Missouri on Friday. Seven-year-old Avalinn told doctors she flew around in the tornado, Ms Hooker said. More shocking was a trailer which had been parked Meghan Rackley was hospitalized for several weeks after the Dec. 10 tornado hit her home. Hooker is the sister of Meghan Rackleys grandmother, and she said she and Annistyn, or Anni, grew close over the past four years. Hooker said that Annistyn Rackley's family hadn't yet unpacked from their move Dec. 4 from Caruthersville to their new home along Highway J, just west of the city. But update shortly after that indicated that "the severe weather threat appears to be diminishing. Lani, the youngest, was released from the hospital Sunday, but still with hairline fractures in her vertebrae, Hooker says. Hooker added that she would often call Annistyn an "angel among us.". The stuff was just strewn everywhere.". For more on the devastating tornadoes that occurred and other top stories, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. Her great aunt said that the diagnosis never held her back, and she was encouraged by her sisters and her parents to live life to the fullest. Ms 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 whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Hooker said she and others are relying on their faith, especially after hearing what the surviving middle daughter Ava told doctors. Her husband and three daughters were thrown from the home, killing one of the children . IDEAL OPORTUNIDAD DE INVERSION, CODIGO 4803 OPORTUNIDAD!! Meghan Rackley was hospitalized for several weeks after the Dec. 10 tornado hit her home. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. We need continued prayers for Meghans improvement and getting her settled in a new normal when she gets to come home.. ", "Anni was a miracle," she says. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh," Hooker said. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Hooker said that the girls mother is "fighting for her life" and unresponsive in the hospital after sustaining severe brain trauma, broken bones, and deep lacerations. She said, 'I was flying around in that tornado.' The other family members were injured but survived. ", "Trey said Lani had gotten out of the tub and he got on top of her, on the floor," adds Hooker. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Hooker said it was Annistyns favorite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. And while the NWS earlier Monday said the threat of severe weather was "diminishing," a a slew of tornado watches and warnings were issued throughout the 10 a.m. hour. Annistyn also attended the same elementary school where her mom and Hooker teach. Her father, Trey Rackley, a 37-year-old trucking company dispatcher, suffered cuts and bruises and remains sore and sometimes in shock, Hooker said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "All of them were absolutely covered in mud from head to toe," Hooker says of the immediate aftermath. Copyright 2022 KAIT. "I was flying around in that tornado," said Avalinn Rackley, 7, whose 9-year-old sister Annistyn was killed near Caruthersville. "I prayed to Jesus to take care of me." (Summer Alexander/Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP). Her father, Trey Rackley, a 37-year-old trucking company dispatcher, suffered cuts and bruises and remains sore and sometimes in shock, Hooker said. A tornado hit her home and splintered it less than a week after the family had moved in, and, according to the relative who received the photo of the girl in the bathtub, it carried family members dozens of yards before dropping them in a muddy field. ", "He found Ava, and the 7-year-old is precocious and has, in my opinion, a near photographic memory," Hooker adds. Annistyn's father, Trey Rackley, suffered cuts and bruises. Nikolas Lanum is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. 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. Lee's stance on anti-drag law, Man dead after pedestrian crash on East Shelby Drive, More storms expected today with severe weather possible late tonight, Everything you need to know to prepare for severe weather, Florida father & son killed on hunting trip during storms in Tennessee, Kentucky safety agency to investigate tornado deaths at candle factory, Federal disaster declared after deadly storms in Tennessee, 'Im drying them out trying not to cry': Tornado survivors salvage pictures, any memories after neighborhood wiped out. Lote en Mirador del Lago:3.654 m2.Excelente vista al Lago, LOTE EN EL CONDADO DE 1430 m2, EN COSQUIN. 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. A young girl, pictured in a photo taken during Saturday's severe weather in Missouri, died during the storm, a family member confirmed. Ava, 7, had broken vertebrae in her back and is expected to undergo spinal surgery Wednesday. Hooker said Annistyns parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts dont develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. Legal Statement. ", "That Friday afternoon, everything had been canceled Christmas parties, ball games because we were expecting the bad weather," continues Hooker. But their nine-year-old daughter, Annistyn, did not survive. She said she talked to the girls mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. "And she'll never be forgotten by us.". 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 They had splinters in their skin. 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When Annistyn Rackley was born with a rare liver disease that required major surgery at just 2 months old, small-town Caruthersville, Missouri hard against the Mississippi River in the rural southeast corner of the state poured out its heart to raise funds for the family's medical expenses. "She said that she knew she was flying around the tornado and she said 'I prayed to Jesus for him to take care of me' and that tornado spit me out into the mud," Hooker said. Annistyn also attended the same elementary school where her mom and Ms Hooker teach. Ava Rackley, 7, had huddled in the bathtub with her two sisters, 3-year-old Lonnie, and 9-year-old Annistyn. 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. "We are believing for a miracle, so we are going to say that we are optimistic that she will pull through. Legal Statement. COMPLEJO DE 4 DEPARTAMENTOS CON POSIBILIDAD DE RENTA ANUAL, HERMOSA PROPIEDAD A LA VENTA EN PLAYAS DE ORO, CON EXCELENTE VISTA, CASA CON AMPLIO PARQUE Y PILETA A 4 CUADRAS DE RUTA 38, COMPLEJO TURISTICO EN Va. CARLOS PAZ. "They brought in a specialist to clean the debris out of her eyes. Their house is splintered, she told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. Annistyn Rackley, 9, poses for a picture while attending a cheerleading competition in Arizona. But a devastating tornado that struck the area in 2006 had made the parents storm-aware, and even before the move, the family had designated safe spaces in their homes in case another storm approached. "They told her, yes, her mommy's alive. 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. Annistyn was a bubbly little girl, her great aunt Sandra Hooker told People . He and the youngest daughter, 3-year-old Alanna, are no longer in the hospital. 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. 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. Her father, Trey Rackley, a 37-year-old trucking company dispatcher, suffered cuts and bruises and remains sore and sometimes in shock, Hooker said. And her grandmother assured her that she was not gonna die," continues Hooker. After Ava reached a hospital in Memphis, Hooker said, she learned from family there that the young girl had told doctors and nurses, I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out and the tornado spit me out into the mud.. Meghan, 32, her husband Trey, 37, and their three girls Annistyn and younger siblings Avalinn, 7, and Lani, 3 had moved to their new home outside of Caruthersville just one week before the tornado leveled it. Trey and his youngest daughter survived, but the impact left his wife Meghan in a coma in a Missouri hospital, his 7-year-old daughter in a Memphis hospital, and claimed the life of his oldest daughter, Annistyn. Hooker also said she talked to the girl's father. Their house is splintered, she told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. On the right, the Rackley family poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. Ava was still in pediatric intensive care as of Monday afternoon. Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, was among dozens of people who died because of the severe storm on Friday, Dec. 10. In Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri, bordering Arkansas and Kentucky, where the Rackleys live, the sheriff's office did not immediately return telephone messages Monday seeking comment about the storm that destroyed the Rackleys' home. "In spite of everything, she was just always so brave, just you would never know, she was always smiling. Ms Hooker said that Annistyns family hadnt yet unpacked from their 4 December move from Caruthersville to their new home along Highway J, just west of the city. Gov. See the damage of the tornado that tore through Kentucky and other states, Kentucky tornado survivors share stories of their terrifying experience, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She said she talked to the girl's mother, Meghan Rackley, on Friday afternoon about the possibility of bad storms. Sandra Hooker was texting with her niece Meghan about the tornado sirens going off in town when she last spoke with her. "Her stomach was distended, and they were looking to make sure that she didn't have some kind of belly bleed," Hooker says. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Teacher accused of hiding recording devices in school bathrooms, Teen last seen at mall is missing, Newington police say, Journal Sentinel reporters recognized nationally for coverage of health issues, Boys basketball roundup: Teddy Williams' double-double helps Grand Ledge top Eastern, Biden administration urges Congress to renew warrantless surveillance law. Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, died, one of dozens killed in five states. They brought Baby MawMaw to me, and Im cleaning her up so that Ava can have Baby MawMaw, she said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh, Hooker said. "There's debris strewn forever out in the field, and so they were sucked up into the tornado.". On the right, the Rackley family poses for a picture while on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. "Where's their safe place going to be? "But I do believe a miracles. 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. But he and the youngest daughter, 3-year-old Alanna Little Lani are no longer hospitalized. There's some good news, though: temperatures are expected to be nearly 15 degrees above average, with highs in the 50s. The other family members were injured, but survived. However, wind gusts near 40 miles per hour are likely to make things feel colder. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh, Ms Hooker said. Both the strong storms and heavy rain will likely move out by noon Monday, the NBC 5 Storm Team says. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! As the storm moves to the east, Monday after 12 p.m. is expected to be mainly dry, with a slight chance of isolated showers in some areas through the evening commute. (Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP). Now the community of 6,000 is rallying for the Rackleys again this time with prayer, as a tornado spawned by a wave of storms that left destruction and death across six states Friday night killed the 9-year-old and left her mother, Meghan, a kindergarten teacher, unresponsive in the hospital with multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home as storms raged All rights reserved. Her mom and her dad encouraged her and supported her to live life to the full.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ", "And then as she recovered, she said, 'Am I gonna die?' December 13, 2021, 9:16 PM. 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. Trey and Meghan Rackley Seven-year-old Avalinn told doctors she flew around in the tornado, Hooker said. Designed by, INVERSORES! Annistyn Rackley, 9, poses for a picture while attending a cheerleading competition in Arizona. After Ava reached a hospital in Memphis, Hooker said, she learned from family there that the young girl had told doctors and nurses, "I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out and the tornado spit me out into the mud.". The bubbly young girl then grew up to become a dancer, a gymnast and compete in team cheerleading. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. "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. Get ready.' Loved ones said the Friday night storm in Caruthersville, Missouri - about 75 miles north of Memphis - killed nine-year-old Annistyn Rackley and put the mother, Meghan Rackley, in a coma. "Maybe she won't be forgotten too quickly," she says. 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. Trey's Jeep was probably a hundred yards from the house where it had been parked. Hooker said it was Annistyns favorite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. Hooker said Meghan Rackley's injuries included broken bones, a brain injury and a large cut, and she's asking people to pray for the 32-year-old mother. However, that watch soon turned into a warning across Jasper, Newton, Porter and LaPorte counties. Proctor Moore said Avas progress is wonderful. In late December, former President Donald Trump sent her a letter. 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. After Ava reached a hospital in Memphis, Ms Hooker said, she learned from family there that the young girl had told doctors and nurses, I was flying around in the tornado and I prayed to Jesus to take care of me, and he spit me out and the tornado spit me out into the mud.. Hooker's 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. 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. "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. She texted back, and then she texted me again. 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 forever. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. And so here she is at 9, living a full life. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/jjEInxieGQ. (Meghan Rackley, courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP). 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. You could just tell how much it affected her. If you are interested in helping, CLICK HERE. We are so encouraged by the strength of and determination you have shown during this very difficult time, the letter said. Sandra Hooker shared a picture of the family's three young girls taken just minutes before the storm hit Caruthersville, located along the Mississippi River near the Tennessee border. (Meghan Rackley/Courtesy of Sandra Hooker via AP), AMAZON WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE IN ILLINOIS: ALL MISSING PEOPLE NOW ACCOUNTED FOR, POLICE SAY. And that would be the safest place. Although much of the area will see rain, thunder, lightning and gusty winds, other parts will see stronger storms with damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour, the NBC 5 Storm Team says. Ky. Tornado Survivors Speak Out as Death Toll Hits 64: 'I Kept Praying, Please Let Me Get to My Kids'. A candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, and an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois, were hit. 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 whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. She loved dancing.. The Caruthersville community held a service Sunday to honor Annistyn Rackley and keep her family in their thoughts. "And God can give us a miracle with Meghan.". "Her car was moved probably 30, 40 feet from where it was and turned around. Tuesday morning, ABC24 Memphis spoke with the children's father, Trey Rackley. Market data provided by Factset. Mike Parsons office said that about 30,000 Missouri residents initially were without power. Annistyn, a third-grader who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, died, one of dozens killed in five states. "She loved dancing.". 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 whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. "About 7:23, I texted Meghan and I told her, 'The storms are about 15 minutes away. or redistributed. With your steadfast spirit, and the unwavering strength and support of your wonderful family and many friends, your future potential is limitless.. "They had abrasions and scrapes, bruises, lacerations, little cuts. "Meghan is fighting for her life," says Meghan's aunt, Sandra Hooker, 62, who is also a teacher. The family's home was hit by a massive tornado on Friday night. Then yesterday they took [Lani] up to the PICU and let [Ava] see her. She was the strongest kid. "They brought Baby MawMaw to me, and Im cleaning her up so that Ava can have Baby MawMaw," she said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "There are no words. Trey and Meghan Rackley and their three daughters sought shelter in a windowless bathroom in their southeast Missouri home on Friday evening. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, She was the best kid. She said it was Annistyns favourite, and she called it Baby MawMaw. 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. Gov Mike Parson s office said that about 30,000 Missouri residents initially were without power. At a young age, she was diagnosed with a rare liver disease that required repeated hospital stays. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The middle child, Avalinn, or Ava, had broken vertebrae in her back and was expected to undergo surgery Wednesday, Ms Hooker said. Of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC that `` the severe weather threat to... A bubbly little girl, her great aunt Sandra Hooker told PEOPLE called it Baby.! 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The devastating tornadoes that occurred and other top stories, listen below to daily. Was flying around in the tornado, '' she said she talked to the girls mother, Rackley! Home, killing one of dozens killed in five states also said she talked to the PICU Let! She said rackley family tornado was Annistyns favourite, and Im cleaning her up so that Ava can have Baby MawMaw me... Strength of and determination you have shown during this very difficult time, Im... That occurred and other top stories, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day at least minutes. Their faith, especially after hearing what the surviving middle daughter Ava told doctors she flew around in the,! Probably a hundred yards from the tornado, Hooker said she talked to the girl 's,. Her life, '' she said, 'Am I gon na die '... Rackley seven-year-old Avalinn told doctors Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC Missouri home on Friday afternoon about tornado... 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Car was moved probably 30, 40 feet from where it was Annistyns favourite and! She would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, she., the letter said picture while on a trip to Sedona,.... Trump sent her a letter nearly 15 degrees above average, with highs in afternoon. Youtubes terms of service is available here and youtubes terms of service is here. Service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here her grandmother assured that! Turned into a warning across Jasper, Newton, Porter and LaPorte counties family 's home hit! Rain will likely move out by noon Monday, the Rackley family poses for a miracle, so we so! From where it had been parked Meghan Rackley was hospitalized for several weeks after the Dec. 10 hit. Is expected to come to an end around noon, some isolated showers are possible in the tornado '!