Tally of damage shows 120 homes, businesses hit

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Two tornadoes that last week barreled through parts of Southeast Missouri, injuring at least 18 people, destroyed or damaged at least 120 homes and businesses, mostly near this community, state officials said.

State officials released a partial list of damage Friday and said inspectors would work in three counties throughout this weekend, along with federal inspectors trying to pinpoint whether the extent of damage qualified for federal disaster assistance.

The greatest damage was caused by a tornado that followed U.S. 60 eastward for 40 miles through Carter and Butler counties to an area northeast of here. The other cut a nine-mile swath from U.S. 67 south of Fredericktown eastward through Marquand.

One of the injured, identified only as being from Ellsinore, was in critical condition Friday at a Cape Girardeau hospital.

Susie Stonner, a state spokeswoman, said the larger storm destroyed or damaged 50 homes, 12 mobile homes and 10 businesses in Van Buren and Ellsinore in Carter County, as well as 46 homes north of Poplar Bluff.