February 7, 2019
The National Weather Service is expected to survey storm damage Friday after three region counties see damage
**UPDATE 4:45 p.m.** VIDEO INCLUDED Members of the National Weather Service are expected to be in Southeast Missouri on Friday after a squall line produced severe winds and damage across at least three region counties.
UPDATE 4:45 p.m.**
Members of the National Weather Service are expected to be in Southeast Missouri on Friday after a squall line produced severe winds and damage across at least three region counties.
Buildings were impacted in Doniphan at about 8:15 a.m. in Ripley County, while a grain bin was taken down later in the Broseley area of Butler County. By approximately 9 a.m., a train had derailed in the Dexter area, and other damage was done in Stoddard County.
“We have reports of straight line wind damage. Right now, we aren’t thinking it was a tornado,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Derrick Snyder. “We are going to send survey crews to Southeast Missouri tomorrow. We’re going to be heading over to the Dexter area first.”
The grain bin was damaged mid-morning in the area of highways AA and 51, said Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers. Power lines were also taken down near the area.
Other than minor tree damage, this was the only damage reported in the Butler County area as of press time.
Prior to the Butler County damage, strong winds struck a home and business in Doniphan around 8:15 a.m., said Ripley County Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Byrd.
Byrd estimates the path of damage stretched about one mile in Ripley County. Most of that was on Highway 142 East, about one-half mile from Doniphan.
Boats were flipped over at Current River Marine Sales on Route 3, and the glass was blown out of a wide glass door, he said. A carport between two buildings there was also flipped over, he said.
A tree limb was blown through a roof next door to the business.
About three-fourths of a mile away a portion of a roof was blown off of a house.
Additional trees were down and other minor damage occurred, he said.
Byrd estimates winds topped at least 60 miles per hour, and says readings at the Doniphan fire department were at 46 miles per hour.
Byrd believes the incident was limited to strong winds.
Doniphan has also seen some minor flooding, including at the Current River Heritage Museum on Washington Street, he said.
Work is ongoing to clean up the train derailment at Dexter, according to workers at the scene. Power may be out to some areas of the town near Boone Park through Friday.
A semi was turned over by winds at the Town and Country grocery store on Specialty Drive.
According to Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham, it appears only freight containers have derailed, no chemical cars.
Detective Cory Mills with the Dexter Police Department has confirmed no injuries.
Officials say the storm pushed the train off the tracks. There is a hazardous car, but it is not leaking and is no danger at this time, they report. The type of chemical involved has not been released, but the car is upright, officials said.
Union Pacific was on scene by noon.
Advertisement
Advertisement