Army chief of staff tours tornado-damaged Ft. Wood

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (AP) - The U.S. Army's chief of staff is pledging to get financial help from Congress for soldiers and families affected by last week's tornado at Missouri's Fort Leonard Wood.

Gen. George Casey Jr. toured the sprawling southern Missouri post on Tuesday - four days after an EF-3 tornado destroyed about 30 homes and left more than 60 others needing repairs.

Thousands of people were off the post when the tornado struck on New Year's Eve. KYTV reports many soldiers and their families returned Monday and Tuesday to find their homes gone.

Casey noted that only a few people were injured. He said most people at the post had a 15-minute warning through sirens and a public address system.

He also praised the support from neighboring communities that have donated thousands of items of food, clothing, toys and bedding.

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Information from: KYTV, http://www.ky3.com