LARGE STORM SYSTEM BRINGS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LARGE TORNADOES TO THE AREA
A large storm system crossed Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas Wednesday evening and early Wednesday night bringing with it multiple tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
Tornadoes were reported in the Qulin area in Butler County, near Cardwell in Dunklin County, as well as in the Advance area in Stoddard County.
A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was spotted by weather spotters in the Bay and Lake City area of Northeast Arkansas.
National Weather Service crews will be doing surveys to find exactly how many tornadoes and what their tracts were over the coming days.
PRELIMINARY DAMAGE REPORTS COMING IN FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAJOR STORM SYSTEM
Damage reports are starting to come in from a storm system that crossed the area bringing with it multiple tornadoes Wednesday night.
According to officials, two structures suffered roof damage and multiple power poles were down in the Qulin area.
The Osborn Church in Qulin also had its steeple knocked down. Craig Meader, director of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather response team tells KWOC News that multiple houses suffered tree damage along Butler County Road 221.
In Stoddard County, one home was destroyed and a person was injured one mile northeast of Advance.
The Cape Girardeau county Emergency Manager reported significant damage in the Delta area.
Storm damage was reported to multiple homes in the Monette area of Northeast Arkansas. There was also a report of heavy damage to the Lake City area.
Power was knocked out for thousands of people around the area.
BLACK RIVER IN BUTLER COUNTY TO BE UNDER A FLOOD WARNING THIS WEEKEND
The Black River in Butler County will be under a flood warning beginning Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a multi-day heavy rain event is expected to last through Saturday.
The Black River will start to rise later this week and increases in crest forecasts can be expected. Officials say that now is the time to prepare for flooding.
As of right now the Black River is forecast to rise to a maximum value of 21 feet Saturday evening which is at the Major Flood stage.
The minor flood stage is at 16 feet. The Flood warning will be in effect through Sunday evening.
For the Black River at Corning, minor flooding is forecast and a flood warning will go into effect beginning Monday evening.
Major flooding is also forecast for the Eleven Point River near Ravenden Springs in Randolph County, where a flood warning will be in effect from Saturday morning until further notice.
NEELYVILLE MAN DIES FROM INJURIES RECEIVED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH
A Neelyville man has died from injuries he received after his moped was hit by a vehicle Monday evening.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at around 5:30 pm on US Highway 67, two miles south of Poplar Bluff.
A moped being driven by a 62 year old man from Neelyville reportedly failed to yield and was struck by a vehicle and the towed unit of another vehicle.
The man suffered serious injuries in the crash and was flown to a Memphis hospital. Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that the man has since passed away from his injuries.
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION REQUESTED IN RESPONSE TO MARCH SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
A total of 28 counties have been included in a request for a federal disaster declaration in response to storms last month.
On Wednesday, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe requested that President Trump approve a major disaster declaration to provide federal assistance in response to the severe storms and tornadoes that devastated Missouri on March 14th and 15th, claiming 13 lives and causing significant damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.
Governor Kehoe requested FEMA Individual and Public assistance for multiple counties, including Butler, Carter, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne.
Individual Assistance would allow eligible residents to seek federal assistance for temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles, and other qualifying expenses.
If approved, Public Assistance would allow local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.
Joint damage assessments estimated more than $26.9 million in emergency response costs and damage to public infrastructure.
NATIONAL GUARD ACTIVATED TO ASSIST WITH STORM RESPONSE
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is taking steps to assist with storm recovery efforts.
Ahead of the storms on Wednesday, Governor Kehoe signed an executive order activating the Missouri National Guard to assist with response efforts for ongoing and severe storm systems throughout the state.
Governor Kehoe first declared a State of Emergency on March 14 in preparation for severe weather.
BUTLER COUNTY MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO STATUTORY RAPE INVESTIGATION
A Butler County man has been taken into custody in connection to a statutory rape investigation.
According to Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, in November of last year, the Sheriff’s Department received a report of an alleged statutory rape of two juvenile females by an adult male.
An investigation led to the arrest of 53 year old Kevin Bryant, of Harviell.
Bryant has been taken into custody on a charge of statutory rape.
He is being held on a no bond warrant in the Butler County Justice Center.
