First responders and utility crews are working throughout Jefferson County to assess and clear damage from a storm Friday night, March 14, that led to 11 deaths across the state, including one in Arnold, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The Highway Patrol reported six fatalities in Wayne County, three in Ozark County and one each in Jefferson and Butler counties. A 51-year-old St. Charles woman died in a crash Friday night on I-55 north of Richardson Road in Arnold when she lost control of a car she was driving after going through a large puddle of standing water from the storms, according to the Highway Patrol.
Arnold Mayor Ron Counts said a disaster relief office has been set up in the basement of City Hall to coordinate responses in the city and surrounding area.
“I have lived out here all of my life, and I have never seen this kind of damage,” he said. “It is unbelievable. It is going to take some time, but we are a strong community, and we will pull together.”
Two gas pumps and the canopy were blown over during storms on March 14 at the Gulf gas station, 501 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold.
The National Weather Service as of today, March 15, officially hasn’t determined if the damage was caused by a tornado.
Rock Community Fire Protection Chief Kevin Wingbermuehle said as of this afternoon, March 15, there were 352 damaged structures in the district’s coverage area. Rock Fire covers approximately 38 square miles in Arnold and Kimmswick and portions of Imperial and Barnhart.
He also said firefighters had marked 400 structures to return to today to assess damage because some structures were unable to be accessed last night or this morning.
“We have seen a lot of structural damage, fortunately there have not been a lot of injuries,” Wingbermuehle said. “Most of the injuries we have had have been relatively minor.”
The American Mattress store, 2233 Michigan Ave., in Arnold had its front door and windows blown out during a storm on March 14.
Wingbermuehle also said one firefighter was injured while attempting to enter a collapsed structure where someone was trapped on Grant in Arnold. He said the firefighter stepped in a hole while approaching the structure.
“He is going to be out for a while,” Wingbermuehle said. “We are not sure how long.”
Numerous businesses and homes were without power throughout Arnold, and sections of Jeffco Boulevard were shut down.
The canopy at the Gulf gas station, 501 Jeffco Blvd., was blown off and two gas pumps were knocked over by the storm.
The United States Postal Service’s temporary trailer set up outside its new Arnold location, 2184 Michigan Ave., was turned over, and the front of the American Mattress store, 2156 Michigan Ave., was blown in at the Water Tower shopping plaza.
The Pear Tree In by Drury hotel sign was mangled during a storm on March 14. The hotel is at 1201 Drury Lane in Arnold.
Josh Kuhn, the project manager for Water Tower shopping plaza, said the Schnucks grocery store, 1253 Water Tower Place, had minor roof damage, and the Petco pet supply store, 1221 Water Tower Place, had its roof ripped off.
“Everybody is without power,” Kuhn said late this morning. “The area was black last night. We are trying to get everything secured and cleaned up, and we are trying to get the stores back open as quick as we can.”
As of 3:25 p.m., Ameren reported 17,495 customers in Jefferson County were without power.
Warren Robinson, Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management director, said officials were still gathering information this afternoon, and he didn’t expect to know the full extent of storm damage for a few days. Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon signed an emergency declaration today.
The top of a utility pole hangs by power lines along Jeffco Boulevard in Arnold.
“There was a lot of impact (Friday) night that we need to wrap our heads around,” he said. “National Weather Service started their survey in Hillsboro. They are nowhere close to being done with the survey. They found damages consistent with a strong EF-1 tornado, maybe an EF-2, with a 400-meter wide base, so a quarter-of-a-mile base. That is preliminary.
“I would imagine in the next couple of days, we will start understanding what the impact is to our residents and what the needs are going to be.”
The National Weather Service said initial reports indicate up to 19 tornadoes of varying strengths touched down across the state.
Robinson said the storm initially touched down Hillsboro and Cedar Hill.
He said the Hillsboro Fire Protection District this afternoon had at least eight to nine residential structures with varying degrees of damage, and the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District reported 44 homes were impacted by the storm and there were about 20 structures firefighters have not been able to access because there were power lines down or debris in the way.
Robinson also said several structures were damaged with at least one report of a collapse along Old Lemay Ferry Road near Arnold.
“If there is a silver lining to any of this, we really haven’t heard of any significant injuries coming out of this,” he said. “We did have one fatality, which is unfortunate, on I-55 in Arnold. But from our collapsed structures, it appears everyone was able to get out safely. That is a good thing.”
Fox C-6 School District Superintendent Paul Fregeau said building and maintenance crews were
starting cleanup efforts at buildings and facilities throughout the district this afternoon.
“At this time, they’re also assessing damage at each location,” he said “It’s still too early to tell the extent of damage we’re looking at, as the situation is still fluid.
“At this time, we can report that Central Office, Fox High School, Rickman Auditorium and some athletic facilities at Seckman High School each have damage. We will have more information as crews continue to assess each campus.”
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said SWAT members and a supervisor were assigned to assist in Arnold last night.
“Our folks were doing a lot of debris cleanup,” he said. “They helped move things and other physical labor duties.”
The Salvation Army provided water, snacks and sandwiches to those who needed assistance this afternoon at the Arnold Commons shopping Center, Arnold Police reported.
Robinson said along with the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and other recovery response partners were providing aid throughout Jefferson County.
He said residents who need assistance for non-life-threatening issues should call United Way at 211.
“It is a great way to connect yourself to resources in a timely fashion,” he said.
Eureka Fire Protection District Chief Scott Barthelmass said firefighters responded to eight calls for downed wires, eight brush fires, one house fire, two vehicle accidents and six sick cases in the district’s coverage area.
The city of Wildwood reported there was significant damage to trees and power lines throughout the community. Wildwood officials also said portions of Hwy. T, Strecker Road, St. Paul Road, Woods Road, Bouquet Road and Melrose Road were fully closed.
Governor Mike Kehoe declared a State of Emergency on Friday, activating the State Emergency Operations Plan to support response and recovery efforts.
The Governor’s Office said Kehoe will visit impacted communities beginning today with stops in Poplar Bluff, Piedmont and Arnold.
“Friday and through the night, Missouri first responders, volunteers and our faith-based partners worked tirelessly in response to a series of devastating tornadoes and severe storms, and before that, dangerous and damaging fires,” Kehoe said in a statement. “Our state team members and responders are working to support communities, have begun to assess the damage with local partners, and will be gathering more information in the coming days. I appreciate the heroic work of all those who are assisting their fellow Missourians. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families grieving loved ones, and we stand with all those impacted by these devastating storms."
Video by Leader photographers Ron and Lisa Ridgon, highlighting the damage in Arnold and Imperial following the tornado on March 14.