Like the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Fountain Park, St. Louis was knocked asunder by a May 16, 2025, tornado that ripped through parts of St. Louis county, city and Metro East.
North St. Louis felt the worst brunt of the historic storm, yet like the Dr. King statue, the only one in Missouri, it will rise from the destruction.
The deadly tornado claimed five lives, according to Police Chief Robert Tracy. The storm injured at least 39 people and caused an estimated $1.6 billion in damage. An estimated 5,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed including homes, businesses, and churches.
Killed were:
Rena Lyles, a mother of five daughters, a grandmother of eight, a great-grandmother, and the wife of Allan Lyles. The couple was headed to their basement when the tornado hit their home near Fountain Park
Patricia Ann Penelton, who was in Centennial Christian Church near Fountain Park when it was struck by the tornado. A volunteer from Ballwin, Penelton began making bag lunches at the church for neighborhood children during COVID and would start a hot food program and weekend mobile lunch service.
Larry Patrick, who was killed in his home on the 4200 block of Margaretta Avenue. He was the former owner of Pat’s Auto Body on Natural Bridge.
Deloris Holmes, who was killed in her family house on Cote Brilliante Avenue when the roof was torn off the three-story building. The family lived in the home for more than 40 years.
Juan Baltazar, who was killed while driving in Carondelet Park when a massive tree, crashed down on his truck. He was known for the street corn he served from his food truck, El Mandilón, and he vigorously supported the St. Louis Latino community.
‘So much devastation’
Shock, grief, recovery
Mayor Cara Spencer announced Tuesday that $20 million of the St. Louis Rams Settlement could be diverted to assist with tornado recovery in the city.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said the city may be able to make $20 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds available for tornado recovery.
While the total of $500 million has been allotted, some has not been utilized yet and Spencer has requested that city departments evaluate projects and find ways to “pivot and have some application here under their obligation to address some of the specific and urgent needs we have right now as a result of the tornado.”
Spencer has also placed the head of the City Emergency Management Agency Commissioner Sarah Russell on paid leave after tornado warning sirens were not activated.
Russell and staff members were at an offsite workshop when the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. Knowing they could not activate the siren, Russell then contacted the fire department, according to the statement from the mayor’s office.
Rena Lyles’s daughter told KSDK they heard no siren before the tornado hit her mother’s home and claimed her life.
Ward Alderwoman Laura Keys arrived home Friday afternoon minutes after a possible tornado roared through her neighborhood, leaving behind death, injury and property damage.
11th Ward Alderwoman Laura Keys was collecting items to be used in the Fairgrounds Park Fishing Derby scheduled for last weekend when the tornado hit.
She returned home to find a scene she described as “horrible.”
“My house is damaged, all the houses on the block are damaged.”
She said St. Louis then showed its spirit.
“I started clearing debris and next thing I know 40 people had joined me.”
This dramatic scenario played throughout the city’s north side, which remains littered with tree limbs, severely damaged buildings, and widespread power outages.
At the corner of Union and Minerva, a tree was upended from the root and intertwined with metal of a concrete streetlight pole so tightly it resembled a rope of licorice.
The wood, metal and concrete pole that rested beneath resembled a giant sculpture. Its final resting place was in front of – and partially on top of – a stately, aged home.
“That was my mother-in-law’s house,” Tyrone Johnson said.
“Don’t get too close,” he warned, as he pointed to downed powerlines with exposed wires and trees. They collapsed on top of his parking spot and throughout his backyard.
Johnson was calm – pleasant even – as he talked about how he learned his neighborhood was hit.
He was at a hospital in South City undergoing routine testing. His wife called and asked him to head home and check on the house.
JoAnn Roberson, CFO of Guys with Fries, says the roof of her business in the Urban League Plaza was torn off, and sustained major damage along with other businesses there.
“Our lobby, kitchen, and prep areas are completely destroyed,” Roberson said.
“So much devastation.”
Roberson was trapped against the wall during the storm, with her legs and back being hammered by flying debris. objects hitting her from all sides. Throughout the storm she kept telling everyone to find cover under a table or something solid.
“It’s going to take time, but we’re moving forward,” Roberson said.
Dallas Holland-Mims, owner of Beyond Sweet Kitchen and Bar and other businesses on Delmar, says each is “a total loss.” She is mostly worried about her employees who are suddenly without jobs.
“I worry about them and how they are going to pay their bills,” said Holland-Mims, who set up a GoFundMe account for her employees.