Tornadoes weave trail of destruction in NE Arkansas

Gov. Sanders authorizes $250k in disaster recovery funds

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Late Friday night, a deadly tornado outbreak swept across multiple states, including Arkansas, leaving at least 39 people dead and dozens more injured. In addition to the tornadoes, wild_res and dust storms fueled by the severe weather claimed more than a dozen lives. The storms hit north central and northeast Arkansas especially hard, with powerful tornadoes carving through several counties and causing widespread destruction.

Damage reports began pouring in around 11 p.m. as rotation was detected across the region. The most tragic losses occurred on Claxton Loop in Cushman, where three Arkansans lost their lives. Independence County Coroner Randell Crabtree con_rmed that two victims died at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries after being transported to a hospital. Authorities have not yet released their names pending family noti_cation.

The National Weather Service (NWS) conducted storm damage surveys over the weekend and con_rmed that two tornadoes in Arkansas were rated as EF4, marking them among the most powerful in recent history. One of these violent tornadoes touched down in Izard County, while the other, with peak winds of 190 mph, tore through Jackson County near Diaz. That tornado was just shy of EF5 status,, the highest level on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a ranking not seen in the United States since 2013.

In Cave City, which sits on the border of Independence and Sharp counties, an EF-3 tornado with winds of 165 mph caused signi_cant damage. Across the state, 16 counties reported storm-related destruction, including Baxter, Clark, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Nevada, Phillips,

See TORNADOES, page A2

West Memphis has six Outdoor Warning Sirens strategically placed around the city so that residents will not be caught off guard by approaching storms.

Photo via City of West Memphis TORNADOES

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Randolph, Sharp, Stone and Woodruff. Meteorologists also con_rmed a tornado in Black Rock, in Lawrence County.

More than 16,000 homes were without power by Satu rday morning. Crews worked tirelessly throughout the day, restoring service to around 5,000 homes by the afternoon, with another 1,000 brought back online later in the evening.

The scope of the outbreak was evident in the six main debris paths identi_ed by the NWS. Tornado tracks stretched from northern Cleburne County to Clay County, passing through communities like Greers Ferry, Cave City, Black Rock, and Palatka. Additional twisters tore across northern Baxter County into Missouri, through Pangburn into Craighead County and from Lawrence County toward McDougal. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency Saturday morning, authorizing $250,000 from the governor’s disaster response and recovery fund to assist with cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

Siren system offers warning

With tornado season clearly upon us it is important to remember what the Outdoor Warning Sirens really mean. Residents of West Memphis were left puzzled and concerned earlier in the month when the city’s sirens blared at 6 p.m.,a time outside of the normal weekly test. Many took to social media to express confusion, wondering what the sirens actually mean when they signal an actual emergency.

West Memphis Emergency Management Director De-Wayne Rose addressed the concerns, reassuring the public that the sirens are just one tool in the city’s emergency response system and should never be relied on as the sole source of information. “When these sirens go off, they are meant to alert people who are outdoors about an imminent threat. They are not designed to be heard inside homes, and they won’t wake you up in the middle of the night.,” he explained.

The six sirens geographically located across West Memphis serve as a warning system for residents who are outside during an emergency. While many people associate them with tornado warnings, they can also be activated for other types of dangerous situations.

When activated for an emergency, the sirens will sound a steady tone for three minutes. If you hear the sirens outside of the weekly test which is held every Saturday at noon, weather permitting, you should immediately seek shelter and check reliable news sources such as weather apps, TV, or radio for details about the threat.

Rose urged residents not to call 911 or emergency services just to ask why the sirens are going off. “Our priority during these situations is responding to actual emergencies. If you’re not sure what’s happening, turn to your phone, TV, or weather radio for updates.”

Many residents assume they should be able to hear the sirens from inside their homes, but that is not the case. The sirens have a maximum audible range of about 1 to 1.5 miles on a clear day. However, trees, buildings, rain, wind, and other background noise can signi_cantly impact how well they are heard.

“We hear complaints from people saying they didn’t hear the sirens,, but if you’’re inside, you may not hear them at all especially with a TV on or during a loud storm,” Rose explained. “That’s why we always encourage multiple ways of getting alerts.”

If you hear the sirens and severe weather is in the area, take the following actions: If you are outside, seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building. If no shelter is available, _nd a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine and cover your head and neck.

If you are in a mobile home or vehicle, do not attempt to outrun a tornado. Abandon the vehicle or mobile home and lie at in a ditch, covering your head with your hands or clothing.

If you are indoors,, rely on weather alerts from a NOAA weather radio, smartphone app, or television broadcast to get details about the threat.

Occasionally, sirens may sound on clear, sunny days when maintenance is being performed. The Emergency Management Of_ce will usually post on social media when this happens to prevent unnecessary concern.

“As much as we want our sirens in working order, we hope they are something you never have to depend on,” Rose said. “But if you hear them outside of normal testing hours, take them seriously and get to safety.”