Maries County storms categorized as an EF-2 tornado

VICHY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The National Weather Service is officially classifying parts of the storm that hit Maries County as an EF-2 tornado. The call was made Sunday afternoon after reviewing damage and windspeeds from Saturday’s weather.

A local storm report from the agency clarifies that most of the tornado’s path caused EF-1 damage, then some slightly heavier “low-end EF-2” damage west of Vichy to the northeast of the area. Wind gusts up to 97 mph was recorded by the Rolla National Airport and members of the community reported hail ranging in size from quarters to golf balls. 

“I said, there it goes, the roof. And it was gone,” Anna Franks, a Maries County homeowner outside of Vichy said. “It could have been our lives. We sure thank God that we're here.”

Franks said she was working outside when the storm hit. As soon as the wind got louder than her radio, she ran inside with her daughter she said. The 80-year-old woman’s home had parts of its siding and roof completely ripped off by the gusts. She was also left without power.

And while hail also left its dents and marks across the area, buildings weren’t the only thing to feel the brunt of the storm. Community members reported having trees completely uprooted and windshields cracked or fully shattered.

Scott John, the Chief Deputy of the Maries County Sheriff's Office and the Emergency Management Director of Maries County said one house was leveled after being lifted off its foundation.

“He said it was his life savings,” John said. “He had just finished putting the last piece of siding on yesterday.”

The focus has moved to cleanup efforts, with departments and teams across Missouri pitching in. Some departments include Maries County crews, MoDOT, and power companies from Gasconade and Three Rivers. Power outages as a result of the storm were seen across the county. John said the inner county areas have been hit the hardest.

Still, only minor injuries have been reported, something that the department said they’re lucky and thankful for. 

“It's kind of a little disturbing, but I just thank God I'm alive,” Franks added. “That can all be replaced somehow or other.”