WINDS GUST TO 90 MPH IN CHAFFEE, ORAN AREAS

Monday afternoon's tempestuous storm blew over tractor-trailer rigs, felled trees, damaged roofs, disrupted phone service and caused power outages across the region but injured no one, according to law enforcement agencies.

Winds measured at 90 mph in Chaffee and Oran raked the region. Trees and limbs were scattered, roofs were damaged and power was cut in Stoddard, Scott, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties.

One tractor-trailer was blown over by high winds on Interstate 55 near the Scott City exit. Another overturned on I-57 near Mounds, Ill., and a third tractor-trailer fell on its side on Highway 3 near Reynoldsville. The drivers were uninjured.

Most law enforcement agencies were still operating on emergency power generators into Monday evening.

The storm severed the main power line in Jackson. "We've had substantial damage," City Administrator Steve Wilson said.

"Roofs, trees down on houses and roofs, and we had a fire to top things off," he said.

Fire crews were still at the scene on Florence Street Monday night. The fire broke out shortly after the storm passed. A firefighter said the cause is still under investigation.

Wilson said all the city's street crews were out working Monday night to repair damage and clear streets.

Though some power had been restored in the city Monday evening, that was not the case at City Hall. The Jackson Board of Aldermen was still planning to hold its regular meeting.

"We may have to do it by candlelight," Wilson said.

No one was in Tractors Classic American Grill, 124 S. High St., when the storm hit Monday afternoon. With the power still out at 5:30 p.m., manager Marshall Steen had already closed for the day.

Steen wasn't worried about the restaurant's refrigerated food.

"All the coolers are well enough insulated they can hold for 12 to 24 hours," he said.

He didn't know what he'd do if the power isn't back on by this morning.

"The situation has never happened to us," he said.

Three or four motor vehicle accidents were reported in Jackson during the storm.

At Chaffee, officer Wayne Hampton wasn't overly impressed with the storm. "I've seen worse," he said. "We do unfortunately have quite a few limbs down and some small power lines down. But nothing super bad."

A tree fell on a house on Hubbard Street in Chaffee, damaging an awning and the roof. "It could have been a lot worse," Hampton said.

In Bollinger County, a shop building blew down with a man inside, but he was not injured.

Oran Police Chief Howard Stevens said a tree fell on a house and another fell on a car, but no one was hurt. Power was restored to the city about 7:15 p.m.

Stevens said some people claimed to have seen a tornado. He was standing outside when the storm hit. "The clouds were red and it came right toward City Hall. But I never saw any funnel cloud," he said.

In Illinois, sheriff's departments in Union and Pulaski counties reported similar damage.

Highway 3 north of Reynoldsville was closed for a time because of trees across the roadway. A large tree fell across the roof of a house next to the Baptist church at Reynoldsville.

A portion of the roof was ripped off a house in Miller City, according to the dispatcher for the Alexander County Sheriff's Department.

In Mounds, trees and power lines were torn down and some lightning strikes were reported.

"We've had a lot worse," the police dispatcher said.