Hospitals in Little Rock metro treating injuries, prepared for Arkansas tornado victims

Firefighters carry a woman out of her condo in Little Rock after her complex was damaged by a tornado on Friday, March 31, 2023. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/41storm/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen Swofford)
Firefighters carry a woman out of her condo in Little Rock after her complex was damaged by a tornado on Friday, March 31, 2023. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/41storm/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen Swofford)

At least three people have been killed in connection with Friday's storms, according to state and local officials.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a news conference with Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. that local authorities in Wynne have confirmed two deaths in that community.

There is one confirmed fatality in North Little Rock from Friday's storms, according to the Pulaski County Coroner’s Office. 

Hospitals in the Little Rock metropolitan area reported patients coming into their emergency rooms, some in critical condition, as a result of Friday’s tornado in Pulaski County.

Scott said in a Twitter post shortly after 6:15 p.m. that at least 24 people have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported there, however. 

Scott described property damage as “extensive,” and said city officials were still responding to the storm’s impact. 

Rescue efforts were underway, and usage of 100 National Guardsmen has been approved by Sanders for traffic control in west Little Rock, so that first responders can do their jobs. 

Guardsmen are expected to be sent to other areas as well, authorities said.

All available MEMS emergency services staff have reported for duty.

Baptist Health Medical Center is treating at least 21 people who were injured in the storms, five of whom were in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Cara Wade said in an email shortly before 6 p.m. The patients are being treated at their centers in Little Rock and North Little Rock, she said. 

According to the spokeswoman, the hospital is prepared to treat additional injuries.

CHI St. Vincent Infirmary is “seeing a high volume of patients” in its emergency room, hospital spokesman Joshua Cook said. 

Cook said he couldn’t immediately provide further details on the number of patients or their conditions.

He urged people who don’t need emergency assistance to keep clear of the hospital while medical personnel catch up on those in need of immediate care. 

Arkansas Children’s Hospital has treated children who were injured as a result of the storms, according to an email from spokeswoman Hilary DeMillo. 

The facility is the state’s only level 1 pediatric trauma center, DeMillo said, and it is prepared to care for any other children who are injured by the severe weather. 

UAMS Medical Center is under mass casualty level 1, meaning they are on standby and expecting between 10 and 20 patients, according to hospital spokeswoman Andrea Peel.

Peel said she didn’t have any information around 3:30 p.m. about anyone who was brought into their emergency room. 

“Right now we’re okay,” she said. “But that could change.”

The hospital was previously under a level 3, according to the spokeswoman. The facility will be available and “take care of anyone who comes in,” she said. 

“We’ll work with our partner hospitals throughout the city. We’ll use all the trauma systems and make sure that everyone has a place to go to.”

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