Officials in Clay County, Ark., and Dunklin County, Mo., believe at least one fatality and extensive damage to some homes and businesses can be attributed to tornadoes following a line of severe storms Saturday evening.
This needs to be confirmed by the National Weather Service, according to officials.
Flash flooding in Poplar Bluff, Mo., also stranded motorists and caused damage at Poplar Bluff High School.
Charles Albert Foster was killed around 6 p.m. when his mobile home in the Knobel, Ark., area was picked up and thrown about 100 feet into a pond in his backyard, according to information from Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller and Emergency Management Agency Director Alan Vaughn.
Foster, whose age has been given by officials as either 83 or 84, lived alone in the 4600 Block of Highway 90, about two miles east of Highway 135.
"I would be very surprised if this is not a tornado," Vaughn said. "Something had to lift the trailer up and put it in the power lines."
There were also signs of rotation, with metal wrapped around trees, he said.
It appeared from the damage path that the storm followed the edge of Crowley's Ridge, on the west side of Clay County, Vaughn said.
A number of downed power lines were reported, along with trees on homes in the St. Francis, Ark., area and a barn damaged near Chalk Bluff.
Neighborhoods on the south side of Malden, Mo., were hit by the storms about 10 minutes after a tornado warning was issued, said Mayor Denton Kooyman. The warning was issued after 5 p.m.
"We have several houses damaged. There's debris everywhere. We won't know the extent until the debris is cleared," Kooyman said just after 9 p.m. Saturday, as search and rescue efforts continued.
Two major injuries had been reported as a result of the storm, a head laceration and a broken leg, he said. One unrelated gun shot injury also occurred during the storm, but other information regarding that incident was not unavailable.
A shelter was opened at the Malden Community Center on North Douglas Street. Utility crews were in the process of shutting off electricity, gas and water to broken lines around the city. Kooyman expected a boil water order to be issued.
The Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, fire departments from Campbell and Clarkton and others were helping with the response.
Streets and intersections across Poplar Bluff were also flooded shortly after 6 p.m. and businesses closed because of high water.
Swiftly rising water entered Poplar Bluff High School through multiple points, said R-1 Superintendent Scott Dill. A winter dance was postponed, with the school's main driveway and parking lots also covered.
Dill said by the time the water receded, crews were inside the high school, readying the building for classes to resume on Monday. It was not known at press time how deep the water was, or the extent of the damage.
"This evening, we, along with other members of the community, were caught by surprise," Dill said Saturday. "We, unfortunately, had to (postpone) the Snow Ball and, although it was the right decision for student safety, I know the great amount of work that goes into preparing for an event like that."
The Mr. Snowman competition will still be held Sunday at the Poplar Bluff Middle School, Dill said.
Poplar Bluff firefighters rescued two women and their animals on flooded Tremont Street home late Saturday. Motorists on Second Street near Relief Street were able to walk away from their vehicle.
Reports of flooding streets, roads and highways included Shelby Road, Maud and Highway 67 intersection, businesses along Business 67 near the former PBRMC location, the Henderson and Rombauer communities.
Staff Writer Chelsae Cordia also contributed to this article.