A powerful storm system that tore across the United States in recent days is winding down Monday, but in its wake are devastated communities across states hit with violent tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms spun off by the massive system.

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

At least eight people are dead after a 71-vehicle pileup on Interstate 70 in Kansas during a dust storm on Friday. It took coordinated efforts from nearly every surrounding town and county more than 24 hours to reopen the highway in both directions between Colby and Goodland,