Initial reports suggest as many as 19 tornadoes hit Missouri over the weekend. Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Office said the twisters left widespread destruction in 27 Missouri counties – killing at least 12 people and leaving one person missing.

Officials have confirmed at least 12 deaths in Missouri following storms overnight, with 9 of those in Heartland counties.19 tornadoes were reported as severe storms moved through the area Friday night into Saturday morning,

"The scale of devastation across our state is staggering," Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said. "While we grieve the lives of those lost, we are also focused on action."

The weather cut a swathe of destruction across an area of the country that is home to more than 100 million people.

At least 37 people were killed as a sprawling storm barreled across the nation’s midsection toward the East Coast.