Tornados damage buildings, cause few injuries

From wire reports, Daily American RepublicA wave of severe storms that included several tornados whipped through Southeast Missouri on Wednesday night, leaving behind some destroyed buildings but few injuries.

The National Weather Service said hail was reported in scattered locations across the state, covering the ground in some areas.

In Cape Girardeau County, no major damage was reported, the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department said.

In Madison County, about 85 miles south of St. Louis, the sheriff's department reported that a tornado destroyed Marquand's fire department and took the roof of City Hall.

"The city of Marquand's about half gone," said Madison County Sheriff's Deputy Dave Jeter. "The fire department is totally destroyed. There's a restaurant that's next to it that's gone. Several homes are roofless. Trees down, power lines down everywhere." Jeter estimated that between 12 and 15 buildings, some of them homes, were severely damaged or destroyed.

The good news, Jeter said: "As far as a I know, there's not been any reported injuries."

Wednesday afternoon, police said a tornado touched down in Carter County near Van Buren, Mo. Dozens of utility poles were brought down by strong winds. Hundreds of customers in eastern in Missouri were without power.

A tornado that struck a subdivision 10 miles north of Poplar Bluff, Mo., at approximately 5:05 p.m. Wednesday destroyed homes and caused numerous injuries, authorities said.

"It was a huge path of destruction," said Sgt. Brent Davis of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "Many houses are completely gone. It was a wide path of destruction."

The tornado's path stretched from half-a-mile to a mile wide, officials said.

Authorities set up a command post along Highway 67 North late Wednesday and were establishing a temporary shelter and assessing damages that occurred in and around the affluent Pine Cone Estates subdivision, said Butler County Sheriff Bill Heaton.

Initially, there were no reports of fatalities. Reports of injuries were still coming in. John Thrasher, Three Rivers Healthcare director of emergency medical services, said seven people were transported from the scene at the subdivision to the hospital - two who appeared to have moderate injuries and the rest with what initially appeared to be minor injuries.

Two of those with minor injuries had to be flown out by the Highway Patrol's helicopter because roadways were blocked by downed trees, Thrasher said.

Davis said four persons sustained serious injuries in the 19- county area patrolled by Troop E, and 11 were treated for minor injuries. Air-Evac helicopters reportedly flew four persons with serious injuries to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, said Toni Chritton, public relations manager for Air Evac lifeteam.