National Weather Service assesses Southeast Missouri storm damage; Nixon tours area

Gov. Jay Nixon spent Thursday touring areas of the state damaged by Wednesday's severe storms and promoting preparation for the next possible round of severe weather forecast for today.

Nixon and representatives from the State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri National Guard and the highway patrol visited the Oak Ridge School District in the afternoon after stopping in Puxico, Mo., and several other areas in the southwestern and central parts of the state.

During his visit to Oak Ridge, Nixon urged residents to develop a plan or have one already in place for when severe weather enters their area. He also discussed methods in use for providing state backup to local emergency services, recovery and rebuilding efforts and encouraged looking back at response to previous natural disasters in the state to see if improvements are needed.

Gov. Jay Nixon, center, surveys damage Thursday afternoon, March1, 2012 as Oak Ridge Superintendent Gerald Landewee, right, points out the bleachers from the ball field that were heavily damaged along with the concession stand and other parts of the school from a storm system that tore through the area early Wednesday morning. On the left is Nixon aide Sam Murphey. (Laura Simon)

He called the weather forecast for the area today "eerily similar to what we have just seen."

The National Weather Service is forecasting a slight risk of severe thunderstorms, while areas to the east are at moderate risk for severe weather.

A meeting between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and SEMA is planned for today in which officials will begin discussing dollar totals for damage in Southeast Missouri and how local governments and individuals can best access financial assistance. Assessments for most areas won't be completed until sometime next week, Nixon said, at which point there can be determinations which communities could benefit for grants or other state and federal assistance.

He estimated the total damage at hundreds of millions of dollars and said President Barack Obama pledged his support for recovery efforts during a phone conversation Thursday morning. Following talks with local and state emergency management officials Thursday, Nixon toured the campus of the Oak Ridge School District.

Nixon issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, which allows local emergency responders to receive assistance from state agencies. He also activated the National Guard to assist in storm-damaged communities.

The East Missouri Action Agency announced Thursday that some emergency housing assistance is available in Cape Girardeau County, where a possible tornado damaged several school buildings and around 75 homes in and around Oak Ridge. First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge also sustained damage. More information on assistance from EMAA is available by calling 573-431-5191 or 1-800-392-8663.

Statewide, three deaths have been confirmed. In Stoddard County, 50-year-old Mark Champlin of Puxico died from his injuries when his mobile home was ripped apart Wednesday morning.

Surveyors from the National Weather Service were assessing damage in Southeast Missouri counties Thursday. Survey reports released Thursday night say an EF3 tornado damaged or destroyed more than 50 buildings in Stoddard County. Peak wind speeds were estimated at 140 mph and the tornado stayed on a 21-mile track from a half-mile west of Asherville, Mo., to two miles west of Bell City, Mo.

The National Weather Service also released details on an EF1 tornado that touched down just east of Bell City and ended its track around three miles south of Benton, Mo., in Scott County. The tornado caused no injuries but damaged outbuildings and several homes.

Results of surveys in Cape Girardeau County had not yet been posted as of 10 p.m.

Classes resumed at Oak Ridge schools Thursday after being canceled Wednesday so district officials could assess damage to several buildings and check for safety. Wind knocked large heating and air units from the roof of the high school gym, mangled bleachers and fences on the school's baseball and T-ball fields, tore roof edging and siding on other buildings and littered the district's campus with debris.

Superintendent Dr. Gerald Landewee said that since the storm hit, many staff members, students and community members have pitched in to help clean up campus.

"It's remarkable what this place looks like now compared to 24 hours ago," Landewee said. Volunteer efforts left much of the schools' grounds clear by 1 p.m. Wednesday, he said.

Landewee said a date is not yet available for when repairs to school buildings will be complete, but the district is already making the first steps. Landewee and an insurance adjuster inspected buildings Thursday afternoon, and crews will begin working to repair damage while classes are in session. A cost estimate on the damage is not yet available.

Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Paul Koeper said before Nixon's appearance Thursday that he and Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management director Richard Knaup are planning to attend an emergency management seminar in April. Overall, Koeper said, he was pleased with the response of county departments to Wednesday's storms. County road crews had all roads in Oak Ridge cleared quickly after the storm passed, he said.

Wednesday's storms caused more severe damage to the east. The National Weather Service's survey of storm damage in and near Harrisburg, Ill., show an EF4 tornado with a peak wind speed around 180 mph touched down one mile north of Carrier Mills, Ill., around 4:50 a.m. Wednesday and followed an east-northeast track for seven miles to two miles east of Harrisburg. The tornado caused six confirmed fatalities and injured about 100 people. At least 10 homes or businesses were leveled and more than 200 homes and 25 businesses were destroyed or damaged. The average width of the tornado's path was estimated at 250 yards.

eragan@semissourian.com

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