Arkansas ? A tornado struck the small Arkansas town of Mena on Thursday night, causing minor injuries, as part of a severe storm system moving quickly across the nation’s midsection.

The reported tornado scored a direct hit on the Polk County Courthouse in Mena, near the Oklahoma state line, said Renee Preslar, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

Gov. Mike Beebe dispatched 30 National Guard soldiers to the town after local officials asked for troops to secure the heavily damaged downtown area, Preslar said.

Thunderstorms moved quickly across southern Missouri, carrying large hail, winds up to 60 and 70 mph and reports of funnel clouds and tornadoes.