The tornado's winds were estimated at 165 to 175 miles-an-hour (265 to 281 kilometers-an-hour).
"These storms are fairly rare to be that strong. The devastation was nearly complete in a few areas," Teague said.
"Albeit isolated, there were some sections of neighborhoods where houses were just completely taken off the foundation. Gone."
(See photos of a tornado that devastated Greensburg, Kansas, in 2007.)
Incentive to Leave
The tornado could be the ultimate incentive for those 800 or so residents who have been reluctant to leave the polluted town, now that most of their homes have been ruined, Sparkman said.
One of those residents, Sue Sigle, had been hoping the government would offer more money for her home before she moves. Then the tornado came.
As she began the task of salvage Sunday, Sigle kept a smile on her face, noting that she was fortunate to be visiting family in Missouri when the massive twister hit.
"I'm OK with everything," Sigle said. "The Lord is going to take care of anything. ... I was going to move anyway. I guess I'll just have to move sooner."
