Those poor people! Imagine waking up to this today. This is the first EF-4 tornado to hit the United States in 15 years (let alone in December), and I have a feeling we're going to see a lot more of them:

Severe weather that created a series of deadly tornadoes and flash flooding that killed at least 43 people continued its violent march across the Midwest and South on Monday as governors across the affected regions declared states of emergency.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency late Sunday as heavy rains and flash floods affected much of the state. At least six people have died in the flooding there, including four soldiers from another country who were temporarily stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Pulaski County Sheriff Ronald Long said.

“Multiple fatalities due to flash flooding have already been reported, and I urge Missourians in flood-affected areas to stay alert, avoid travel if possible and never drive into a flooded roadway," Nixon said.

Snow and ice brought whiteout conditions and locked up roads across parts of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez declared a state of emergency, calling the weather issues there "dire." In Oklahoma, an eight-mile stretch of I-81 west of Norman was closed due to downed power lines as the state struggled with heavy rains and flooding in some areas and ice and snow in others.

Weather service meteorologist Mark Wiley said that area can expect 8-16 inches of snow, with some isolated areas seeing 20 inches or more before the storm slides East sometime Monday.

Where would these states be without the federal government to help clean up massive disasters like this?

These stories are becoming all too common. The north of England and Argentina were also hit with massive floods over the holiday.