Damage from storms reported across the Heartland

Published: May. 25, 2011 at 3:35 PM CDT|Updated: May. 27, 2011 at 2:51 PM CDT
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Home destroyed in Ellsinore, MO (Source: John Morgan)
Home destroyed in Ellsinore, MO (Source: John Morgan)
Ellsinore, MO (Source: Holly Brantley)
Ellsinore, MO (Source: Holly Brantley)
Ellsinore, MO
Ellsinore, MO
Tree down in Parma (Source: Larones)
Tree down in Parma (Source: Larones)
A sawmill in Boyd, Jefferson County, IL
A sawmill in Boyd, Jefferson County, IL

(KFVS/AP) - A second day of powerful storms roared through southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky with tornados and high winds leaving a path of destruction.

The National Weather Service issued tornado watches and a series of warnings in a dozen states on Wednesday that stretched northwest from Texas though the Mississippi River valley to Ohio.

In the Heartland's 54 counties, there were 21 reports of tornadoes or funnel clouds.

Authorities report one home destroyed and U.S. 60 blocked by trees and debris in the rural Carter County town of Ellsinore.  Crews have been out this morning to clear the roads. Power was knocked out in nearby Grandin, and the Harmony General Baptist Church has been damaged.

"It was scary," said Mark Hampton, who witnessed the tornado.  "My brother was screaming, my mom was crying.  My brother thought he lost his house.  It was huge."

Just to the east, a tornado was reported north of Greenville in Wayne County. Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper Clark Parrott says people there had plenty of warning, but crews were heading to the unincorporated town of Silva to check for damage.

Route 34 in Wayne County will be closed while MoDOT crews clean up storm debris.  Route 34 will be closed from Route 67 to County Road 217 will be closed until 4:30 Thursday.

Carter County EMA Director Larry Sandarciero says six houses were severely damaged or destroyed east of Ellsinore, a few trailers rolled over in Grandin, about 12 homes had windows broken and their roofs peeled back. The city of Grandin is out of water. Ozark Border Electric is working to restore it.  Carter County deputies are out in the county checking on places.  The county does not have shelter open for storm victims, but if storm victims need a place to stay call Sandarciero at 573-776-4110.

Storms were also taking aim at Poplar Bluff and other cities in the region.

There were no immediate reports of any serious injuries or deaths.

Union County, Ill. sheriff's deputies earlier say the Jonesboro city hall suffered wind damage.  Deputies say that an antenna from the building was ripped off, leaving behind a hole in the building.  They also report trees and power poles down just east of Ware.

In Jefferson County, Ill., officials believe a tornado touched down in the town of Boyd. Sheriff Roger Mulch says the county was very lucky no one was hurt.  However, he does report extensive damage to some properties.  The storm destroyed a sawmill and heavily damaged a church.  The sheriff says this is the second time in 10 years the small town of 200 people has been hit by a tornado.

Karen Oduola of Jonesboro says she is lucky she was next door at a neighbor's house when the storm hit because a huge tree fell onto her house during the peak of the storm.

"I heard a huge crack of lightning and it sounded like it was so close," said Karen.  "My friend looked outside and was like oh my gosh a tree fell on the cars.  I had no idea it fell onto my house until I got inside and I could see the sky."

The only other substantial structural damage was to Jonesboro City Hall.  Strong winds blew the radio tower over and took some of the brick building with it too.  Mayor Ken Blandford says the city pulled together and got a tarp on the building quick.

"It came and went so fast," says Mayor Blandford.  "We had power out in part of the town for about 4 or 5 hours."

Luckily, for most of the town their were just short lived power outages and downed limbs.

The storms follow a deadly outbreak Tuesday in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas that killed at least 15 people. The nation's single deadliest tornado since 1950 killed 125 on Sunday in the southwest Missouri city of Joplin.

Show us what happened in your area.  Upload pictures and video to cNews or email them to cnews@kfvs12.comCheck out the slideshow above or see more pictures and video at cNews.

Power Outages

Glen Cantrell with SEMO Electric Co-op says at one point several substations failed over the afternoon, and now they are repairing individual lines. As of 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday there was not an individual number of outages per county that they had available.

Members reported trees blown over on lines and in one area, 3 poles were reported knocked over. Limbs fell on some lines and lightening played a role in the outages as well. As of 9:34 p.m. on Wednesday, 1,600 meters were without power.

Officials with SEMO Electric say crews were called out immediately, after the first outage was reported on Wednesday. Effected towns included Bloomfield, Bell City, Miner and Advance and areas to the north in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger Counties. Crews are focused on restoring power as quickly as possible. We ask our members to be patient while our crews work overnight to restore their power.

SEMO Electric Cooperative serves 6 counties in southeast Missouri, including Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard, Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties.

Egyptian Electric Cooperative crews continue to restore service from Wednesday's service disruptions caused by high winds and severe lighting. Outages occurred to the system throughout Randolph, Jackson and Williamson Counties in Illinois.

As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, approximately 500 members were without power. At the peak, approximately 920 members were without service. Officials say full restoration to all members is expected through the night.

SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative is working to restore power to members following severe storms and high winds that swept through the region Wednesday evening.  At the peak of the storm the Cooperative had 5,500 members without power.  The majority of these outages were due to transmission outages resulting in loss of service to 11 of the Cooperative's substations.  As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday the Cooperative had approximately 450 members remaining without service.  The majority of the outages that remain are in Gallatin, Hardin, Pope & Saline Counties.

The Cooperative is utilizing two area contractors to assist our line and forestry personnel with restoration efforts.  All crews have been working since Wednesday evening and will continue to work thru this evening.

The severe storm weather that hit the Metro East and Central and Southern Illinois caused power interruptions to over 28,000 customers at the height of the storm, according to Ameren Illinois. Wednesday's storm activity  may have produced tornadoes or high straight line winds causing Ameren Illinois having to replace 150 broken poles. They say power has been restored to more than 82000 since the storms rolled across Illinois on Monday afternoon.

Ameren says in some cases, customers may need to have a licensed professional electrician make repairs to customer-owned service entrance equipment, including 2. Service bracket or pipe riser; 3. Weatherhead; 4. Pipe riser; 5. Meter box. Ameren Illinois is responsible for the 1. Service drop and 6. Electric meter. Visit IllinoisOutage.com for more information. Customers should never attempt to make these repairs – always have a licensed professional electrician handle repairs.

Ameren adds, customers also are responsible for removing and disposing of any fallen limbs and trees along with any other debris due to storm damage or Ameren Illinois power restoration efforts. Ameren Illinois storm restoration crews will trim and remove trees and branches only to the extent necessary to restore electrical service.

Customers who are still without power are requested to call Ameren Illinois Customer Service at 1-800-755-5000.

If your power remains off when you see that your neighbors' power has been restored, you should call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000.

As of 10:40 p.m. Friday, Ameren Illinois reports the following outages:

  • Alexander Co. - 8
  • Jackson Co. - 2
  • Gallatin Co. - 12
  • Massac Co. - 1
  • Saline Co. - 1
  • White Co. - 1

Storm reports

The following storm reports come for the National Weather Service:

9:37 p.m. - Reported by Jackson Purchase Energy...over 6400 customers without power in 6 counties across the Kentucky Purchase area.

9:35 p.m. - 60 mph winds reported in Cadiz, KY

9:32 p.m. - 8500 CUSTOMERS IN CALLOWAY, MARSHALL AND GRAVES, KY HAVE NO POWER

8:08 p.m. -- Funnel cloud in Wingo in Graves Co., KY

8:04 p.m. -- 60 mph winds in Calvert City in Marshall Co., KY

8:04 p.m. -- 69 mph winds in Calvert City in Marshall Co., KY

7:56 p.m. -- 70 mph wind gusts estimated. Event occurred at Intersection of Hwys. 62 and 95 in Calvert City in Marshall Co., KY

7:55 p.m. -- 60 mph winds in Uniontown in Union Co., KY

7:52 p.m. -- 70 mph winds in Palma in Marshall Co., KY

7:51 p.m. -- Roof blown off of the Gallatin County School in Junction in Gallatin Co., IL

7 p.m. -- Late report: destroyed shed with multiple trees down with some uprooted and snapped. Event occurred in the community of Grantsburg in Johnson Co., IL

7:46 p.m. -- Trees down in Albion in Edwards Co., IL

7:45 p.m. -- .88 inch hail near Mount Carmel in Wabash Co., IL

7:43 p.m. -- Funnel cloud in Bellmont in Wabash Co., IL

7:43 p.m. -- 1.25 inch hail in Bellmont in Wabash Co., IL

7:43 p.m. -- 1 inch hail in Hickman in Fulton Co., KY

7:40 p.m. -- 1 inch hail reported in Bellmont in Wabash Co., IL

7:40 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported over community of Mount Carmel at this time in Wabash Co., IL

7:34 p.m. -- Wind gusts estimated 70 to 80 mph in the Farley area in Paducah in McCracken Co., KY

7:33 p.m. -- Numerous trees down in Pankeyville in Saline Co., IL

7:30 p.m. -- Numerous trees down and signs blown over in Harrisburg in Saline Co., IL

7:30 p.m. 72 mph winds reported in the Farley community in Paducah in McCracken Co., KY

7:30 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported near the Interstate 24 and Oaks Road in Paducah in McCracken Co., KY

7:29 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported along the south side loop near 28th Street and one reported near the Farley community in Paducah in McCracken Co., KY

7:25 p.m. -- Dime size hail reported in the communities of Hickman and Casey in Fulton Co., KY

7:25 p.m. -- 70 mph winds reported at Barkley Regional Airport in West Paducah in McCracken Co., KY

7:22 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported near the community of Thackeray near McLeansboro in Hamilton Co., IL

7:15 p.m. -- Update: Tornado in Ellsinore in Carter Co., MO was .5 to .75 miles wide at times. Went through the entire County and into Wayne County. Multiple homes destroyed. Hundreds of acres of downed and snapped trees county wide blocking multiple roadways. No known injuries at this time.

7:14 p.m. -- Several trees down with wind gust estimated at 70 mph near Dixon Springs in Pope Co., IL

7:13 p.m. -- 62 mph winds in West Paducah in McCracken Co., KY

7:10 p.m. -- Trees and limbs down along Interstate 24 near mile marker 21 near Calvert City in Marshall Co., KY

7:09 p.m. -- Trees down and electrical transformers blowing up in Herrin in Williamson Co., IL

7:05 p.m. -- Funnel cloud in Milburn in Carlisle Co., KY

7:01 p.m. -- State trooper reports wind gusts 70 to 80 mph near West Frankfort in Franklin Co., IL

7:01 p.m. -- Funnel cloud in Milburn in Carlisle Co., KY

7 p.m. -- Funnel cloud crossed Interstate 57 and winds destroyed a local saw mill in Boyd in Jefferson Co., IL

7 p.m. -- Destroyed shed with multiple trees down with some uprooted and snapped near Vienna in Johnson Co., IL

7 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported at Intersection of Interstate 57 and Route 13 in Marion in Williamson Co., IL

6:59 p.m. -- Nickel size/.88 inch hail reported in the community of Naylor in Ripley Co., MO

6:56 p.m. -- .88 inch hail reported near McLeansboro in Saline Co., IL

6:53 p.m. -- 60 mph winds near Herrin in Williamson Co., IL

6:47 p.m. -- 60 mph winds near Mt. Vernon in Jefferson Co., IL

6:46 p.m. -- Limbs down and property damage reported. Portable garage buildings rolled over in Anna in Union Co., IL

6:45 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported north of town along Interstate 57 moving east in Cairo in Alexander Co., IL

6:40 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported along Interstate 55 at mile marker 80. A tree went through a law enforcement's home in Benton. Scott Co., MO

6:38 p.m. -- Wind gusts of 80 mph in Mulkeytown in Franklin Co., IL

6:38 p.m. -- Funnel cloud over the town in De Soto in Jackson Co., IL

6:34 p.m. -- Broken limbs with wind gusts estimated at 50 mph in Jonesboro in Union Co., MO

6:43 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported by public in Glenallen in Bollinger Co., MO

6:30 p.m. -- Destroyed wood barn in Fruitland in Cape Girardeau Co., MO

6:30 p.m. -- Golf ball size hail reported in town in Lilbourn in New Madrid Co., MO

6:26 p.m. -- 57 mph winds near DuQuoin in Perry Co., IL

6:25 p.m. -- Roof blown off barn. Wall cloud associated with this storm in Gordonville in Cape Girardeau Co., MO

6:23 p.m. -- Nickel size hair reported in the community in Harrisburg in Saline Co., IL

6:03 p.m. -- Funnel cloud with good rotation in Hendrickson in Butler Co., MO

5:53 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported between Mt. Vernon and Dix in Jefferson Co., IL

5:48 p.m. -- Winds estimated 70-80 mph countywide. Trees reported down on several roadways. One tree on home along Hwy. 72. Marble size hail reported throughout the county in Marble Hill in Bollinger Co., MO

5:46 p.m. -- Funnel cloud reported over the town in Ellsinore in Carter Co., MO

5:34 p.m. -- Large tree down along 11th Street in Poplar Bluff in Butler Co., MO

5:28 p.m. -- Funnel cloud observed near Casey store on Route 154 west in Pinckneyville in Perry Co., IL

5:19 p.m. -- Multiple funnel clouds reported along Hwy. 67 in Poplar Bluff in Butler Co., MO

5:14 p.m. -- Tornado brief touchdown near Poplar Bluff in Butler Co., MO

5:03 p.m. – Tornado out of sight but debris falling along Missouri Hwy. YY and A south of Patton in Bollinger Co., MO

4:58 p.m. - Tornado, breif touchdown in Oxly in Ripley Co., MO

4:47 p.m. – Tornado crossed U.S. 67 north of Greenville near the community of Silva in Wayne Co., MO

4:42 p.m. – Golf ball size/1.75 inch hail reported south of Doniphan in Ripley Co., MO

4:33 p.m. – Tornado reported in the community of Greenville in Wayne Co., MO

4:30 p.m. – Large tornado reported just north of community moving northeast, reported by EM in Greenville in Wayne Co., MO

4:21 p.m. – Nickel sized/.88 inch hail and debris falling from the sky, storm is southwest of the community in Greenville in Wayne Co., MO

4:19 p.m. – Golf ball size hail/1.75 inch reported between Mill Spring and Williamsville in Wayne Co., MO

3:56 p.m. – Update: 3 mile debris field  2 to 5 miles west of town. Two people trapped in semi between two trees. All cell phone service is out. This damage occurred from the first tornado near the community. West of Ellsinore in Carter Co., MO

3:56 p.m. – Tornado reported just south of town, debris visible and storm is moving NE, reported near Ellsinore in Carter Co., MO

3:56 p.m. - Tornado south of Oxly, Mo in Ripley County was .5 miles wide. House destroyed and trees down, people trapped in vehicles. FEMA building has 200 seeking shelter, tornado may have struck the communities of Hunter and Grandiin but no confirmation yet. Law and fire/rescue checking homes for injured people (reported by FEMA team member).

3:56 p.m. – Trees down and community without power, structural damage reported to include a church, tornado in Grandin in Carter Co., MO

4 p.m. – Tornado along Hwy. 21 and Hwy. 60 between Ellsinore and Van Buren in Carter Co., MO

3:57 p.m. – Dime sized/.75 inch hail reported at Intersection of Hwy. 21 and Hwy. 60 in Ellsinore in Carter Co., MO

3:56 p.m. – Tornado near Ellsinore, reported just south of town in Carter Co., MO

3:50 p.m. – Tornado in Grandin, 2 mobile homes destroyed in Carter Co., MO

3:49 p.m. – Funnel cloud spotted near Ellsinore along Hwy. K in Carter Co., MO

3:22 p.m. – Funnel cloud reported near the community in Freemont in Carter Co., MO

3:21 p.m. - Funnel cloud spotted in Freemont in Carter Co., Mo

3:05 p.m. – 1 inch/quarter sized hail reported in Gatewood in Ripley Co., MO

Copyright 2011 KFVS. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.