( CNN ) -- Officials in the resort city of Branson , Missouri , were relieved an EF2 tornado , which damaged some of its marquee musical theaters , struck before the prime tourist season began . They said Wednesday the town was still open for business , although tourists might have to change some of their entertainment plans . `` We are getting through it , '' Mayor Raeanne Presley said of the storm that moved through early Wednesday . The tornado had winds of 120 to 130 mph , was 400 yards wide and was on the ground for about 20 miles , according to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service . The storm smashed at least seven miles of the city 's commercial strip . Although tourists were in town , the numbers would likely have been much higher in about two weeks , when entertainment moves into full gear through Christmas , officials said . Storm system rakes long path . Thirty-three injuries were reported ; most were minor or moderate . One person was listed as critical , according to City Administrator Dean Kruithof . Gov . Jay Nixon said damage was in at least in the tens of millions , perhaps higher . Crews were still assessing the extent of the losses . `` We are confident that Branson will be back bigger and better than ever , '' Nixon told reporters . `` I woke up this morning and looked outside and saw houses were destroyed , '' said resident Steven Scharmanzer . `` I 've never seen anything like this in the 20 years I 've lived here . '' Presley told CNN she could n't recall a storm that hit so many structures . Several venues were more fortunate . Silver Dollar City theme park , for example , appeared to be unaffected . Nestled in the Ozarks region , about 40 miles south of Springfield , Branson has been a musical magnet for decades . It really took off in the mid-1980s , and its many theaters have showcased stars such as Andy Williams and Tony Orlando . The offerings range from country to comedy , classical to kitsch . Kruithof said about five or six of the city 's roughly 40 theaters were damaged . The Branson Variety Theater was heavily damaged , he told CNN . `` One of the big issues is cleaning up and getting rid of the debris , '' he said . `` ( However ) , many , many more of our theaters had minor , or no damage at all . '' The city 's convention center and an attached Hilton were damaged , as was a portion of Branson Landing , a large shopping and entertainment complex . iReport : Hilton 's windows blown out . `` While we do have significant damage , this is not to the extent to what you saw in Joplin , '' Kruithof said . `` Some properties will be difficult to repair . '' The May 22 , 2011 , EF5 tornado in Joplin , killed 161 people and injured more than 1,000 . Joplin is about 110 miles west of Branson . `` We sent crews to Joplin the day that happened , '' Kruithof said Wednesday . `` I have already received e-mails from Joplin to show they are ready to help us . '' Damage across Branson included one neighborhood and familiar tourist spots . A World War II-era biplane in front of a miniature golf course was knocked from its perch . A P-51 Mustang airplane in front of a veterans museum was heavily damaged . Visitors coming to the town this weekend should be aware of the recovery , officials said . `` Many people who have plans ... will probably need to check with their lodging or shows they had tickets for , '' Kruithof said . Many businesses in the southwest Missouri town have disaster preparedness plans . Entrepreneurs are eager to rebuild . `` We have so many people who want crews in here to clean up , who want to start rebuilding , '' Kruithof said . `` It will be a few weeks to get to some sense of normalcy . Some areas it will take longer . '' Resident Donna Lowe told CNN she was asleep in her trailer when the storm arrived . `` When the wind started blowing , I started praying , '' she told Wolf Blitzer . The storm threw Lowe from her bed . CNN meteorologist Sean Morris contributed to this report .
EF2 tornado strikes Branson , Missouri , overnight ; it was on ground for 20 miles . Damage is reported on commercial strip of the resort . - May 24 : A large EF3 tornado touches down in southern Oklahoma and moves through central Kansas before dissipating over eastern Kansas. Town vows to rebuild , stay open for business .