A deadly tornado outbreak ripped through Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Mississippi overnight Friday, leaving destruction, power outages and tragic loss in its wake.

Millions of Americans across the country are on alert for a severe weather outbreak as violent, long-track tornadoes with damaging winds of up to 80 mph and large hail are expected across the Midwest and South with the cross-country storm moving east.

After deadly storms scourged the Heartland, volunteers are gathering from across the area to help with relief and recovery efforts.

Violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the U.S., wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states.

The heaviest fatalities so far were in Missouri, which was lashed by twisters overnight The threat of violent tornadoes in parts of the US proved deadly as well as destructive as whipping winds moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday,

More than 20 twisters reportedly struck the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Mississippi. "Today there is a high risk for more tornadoes across Alabama and Mississippi. Tornadoes also hit Illinois,