Camden County declares state of emergency after 30 buildings damaged, destroyed
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Camden County Commission has declared a state of emergency after roughly 30 buildings “were either damaged or destroyed,” according to a Friday night Facebook post from the county’s office of emergency management.
“The EOC was activated, Road & Bridge provided heavy equipment and the Sheriff’s Department provided intelligence and reconnaissance for the Unified Command,” the post says.
“The Region F Fire Mutual Aid system requested strike teams from throughout the State, bringing in crews to assist. Damage estimates are incomplete at this time, however an estimated 30 structures were either damaged or destroyed.”
Southwest Camden County Fire Protection District preivously said in a Friday evening post that multiple families were displaced after their homes were destroyed.
SCCFPD told residents on Facebook earlier in the day that if they can see fire within 100 yards of their homes, they should evacuate. The evacuation order was lifted around 8 p.m. and the district stated that families lost their homes and property.
"Evacuation order lifted. Our department is still on 2 active fires. We would like to thank all of the departments that offered assistance during this tumultuous fire event," the post says. "We are also praying for the multiple families that lost their homes and property. We will be posting a full report and update later.
Evacuees "may go to First Baptist Church Macks Creek."
The Camden County Sheriff's Office wrote on its Facebook page at 5:09 p.m. that it was closing down roads because of "fires jumping roadways."
"We are closing down roads through parts of western Camden County due to the fires jumping roadways in different areas. Expect delays on US 54 and other state and county roads," the post says. "Emergency personnel are also evacuating homes in the area of State Hwy 73 in Branch and Macks Creek. Homes are also being evacuated in the State Road J area of Macks Creek. Please exercise patience."
Storm damage reported in Rolla, power outages ongoing in Mid-Missouri
Storm damage was seen in Rolla after strong storms went through the area on Friday night.
A tornado warning had been issued in the southern portion of our viewing area, including Phelps and Maries County. Viewer video and a photograph from the Missouri State Highway Patrol showed significant damage to a strip mall.
Rolla resident Derrick Witt described the damage in the town as devastating.
“There's light poles out in the middle of the highway and just complete darkness, like the whole town's just dark,” Witt said. “There, there's no electricity, fronts of buildings ripped off. There's tin in the trees all around. I've never seen anything like it”
High winds ripped through Mid-Missouri during Friday afternoon and evening, with a large number of power outages being reported.
The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives map showed more than 4,400 electricity customers without power on Friday evening following the storms, the highest total of an electric co-op during the evening. Maries, Morgan, Camden, Laclede, Cole, Boone and most Mid-Missouri counties saw a significant number of utility customers without power.
Rolla police wrote on its social media that there are people looking at the damage around town and are asking residents to give first responders room to work.
"We are receiving calls of numerous onlookers surveying the storm damage. Our emergency crews are responding from call to call. Please give them room to work. The working conditions are challenging, due to the debris and power outages," the post says.
The Phelps County Sheriff's Office wrote in a social media post that an emergency shelter will be set up at First Baptist Church at 801 North Cedar Street. The Red Cross is assisting.
"If you require shelter or know someone who does, please visit the First Baptist Church Ministry Center. The shelter is equipped to provide a safe and supportive environment during this emergency situation," the post says.
No injuries reported in Hartsburg after fires
Boone County authorities were evacuating people in the area of Hartsburg on Friday evening after winds fueled wildfires.
A wildfire in the 1900 block of Mackie Road has led to evacuations, according to emergency management. The area covers from River Road to Cedar Tree Lane. The evacuees were told to go to the Ashland Optimist Club.
Boone, Audrain and Callaway counties remained under severe storm warnings until 7:30 p.m.
The Southern Boone County Fire Protection District shared that multiple fires had been extinguished by 7:30 p.m. But, firefighters are still fighting a "major fire in the Hart Creek Nature Area." No injuries have been reported so far. The evacuation order was lifted at 7:55 p.m.
"This heavy rain has allowed our multiple fire crews to pull back and rehabilitate ourselves and our equipment. We are asking for anyone who evacuates to please remain away from the area as we evaluate the effect this wonderful rain has had on the fire," the post says.
Callaway County law enforcement reported three active fires in that county and that county firefighters were helping with wildfires in Audrain and Boone.
Evacuations were also taking place in the Lake of the Ozarks area.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has warned people in southwest Camden County to evacuate as high winds fuel wildfires.
"These fires are starting to encroach on residences, businesses, and structures throughout the area," the patrol's Troop F wrote in a social media post. "Troopers are advising residents to evacuate their homes and businesses."
There are numerous natural cover fires throughout southwestern Camden County.
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) March 14, 2025
These fires are starting to encroach on residences, businesses, and structures throughout the area. Troopers are advising residents to evacuate their homes and businesses. pic.twitter.com/jTkYq7gCsI
Severe weather is expected to roll through Mid-Missouri Friday afternoon and early evening, prompting the ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team to declare today as a Weather Alert Day. Most of Mid-Missouri is currently in a tornado watch.
Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O’Connell told ABC 17 News that Camden, Miller and Pulaski counties have all requested fire mutual aid assistance. Crews from Texas, Maries, Morgan and Osage counties are responding to calls in those areas. Lines are reported down in Pulaski County near Highway 28.
O’Connell said the fire in Mack’s Creek is the biggest concern as of right now.
Siren issues in Montgomery County
Emergency sirens in Montgomery City could not be set off "by usual means" on Friday, according to a social media post from the Montgomery City Police Department.
Police wrote that a backup system was used.
"The city emergency sirens were reportedly unable to be set off by the usual means, earlier this evening. When I was notified, I began immediately contacting other emergency city and county personnel," the post says. "We have accessed the city backup system and have activated that plan, should there be a need to set off the city sirens. I was also informed the primary system is being looked at by qualified personnel."
Earlier in the evening, the Montgomery County Fire Protection District wrote that workers were trying to fix the sirens.
Electric cooperatives
The following counties are experiencing a number of outages, according to the AMEC map at 9:17 p.m.:
- Boone County: 1 Callaway Electric
- Benton County: 271 (259 Central Missouri Electric, 1 Southwest Electric, 11 Co-Mo Electric)
- Callaway County: 434 Callaway Electric customers
- Cooper County: 354 Co-Mo Electric customers
- Chariton County: 115 Farmers Electric customers
- Morgan County: 7 Co-Mo Electric Cooperative customers
- Camden: 246 (9 Laclede Electric customers, 237 Southwest Electric, 4 Co-Mo Electric)
- Maries County: 274 (1 Gascosage Electric customers, 90 Intercounty Electric, 183Three Rivers)
- Monroe County: 1 Ralls County Electric
- Osage County: 109 Three Rivers Electric customers
- Pulaski County: 187 (54 Laclede Electric, 44 Gascosage Electric, 89 Intercounty Electric )
- Lacelede County: 423 Laclede Electric
- Phelps County: 4,480 (4,453 Intercounty Electric, 27 Gascosage Electric)
Boone Electric had more than 800 of its customers without power at 4:15 p.m., according to its outage map. The number decreased to 481around 5 p.m. The outages appear to have occurred south of the Thornbrook area. More outages were reported near Prathersville. All were resolved by the evening.
Benton County is seeing a sizable outage at 1,074 electric customers. Phelps County is also seeing more than 1,000 households without power between two co-ops.
There were 330 Miller County electric customers were without power, according to the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives outage map at 3:35 p.m. Of those, 309 were Three Rivers Electric customers, with the rest coming from Gascosage Electric.
A spokesperson from Three Rivers said its outage was caused by the wind and that a grass fire was started from downed line in the St. Elizabeth area. The spokesperson believed that outage will be fixed by 3:45 p.m.
Other outages had popped up by 5:30, leaving nearly 1,000 Three Rivers members without power.
Camden County is seeing 720 outages at 5:04 p.m., most of which are Laclede Electric customers.
Another sizeable outage was going on in Morgan County, with 843 Co-Mo Electric customers without power earlier in the afternoon. That number was down to 81 by 5:04 p.m.
Emergency services in Morgan County wrote on its Facebook page that almost every one of its agencies were fighting multiple fires.
Ameren
Ameren’s outage map shows a significant number of outages in the eastern part of the state. Thousands are without power in St. Louis.
Customers without power, as reported by Ameren at 9:10 p.m.:
- Maries County: 105
- Morgan County: 680
- Camden County: 464
- Cole County: 623
- Miller County: 324
- Boone County: 105
- Montgomery County: 161
- Callaway County: 184
Columbia
In Columbia, five outages had cut power to more than 1,200 city utility customers before 5 p.m., according to the city’s outage map. All of the outages were resolved by 6:30 p.m.
An outage was reported on Bray Avenue in the neighborhood just south of Fairview Elementary School. That outage was reported at 3:41 p.m. and is impacting 73 utility customers.
Another outage was reported on West Rollins Road, east of Stadium Boulevard, at 3:25 p.m. that is impacting 15 customers. A crew was assigned to that outage, as well. Another outage was reported at 3:23 p.m. near Douglass Park in Central Columbia, which is impacting nine customers.
Another outage was reported at 4:13 p.m. in a neighborhood south of Hinkson Creek, west of Providence Road. That outage was reported on Red Oak Lane and is affecting 23 customers.
The largest outage impacting around 1,100 customers was reported at 4:25 p.m. in south Columbia near Green Meadows Road.
Spokesman Matt Nestor wrote in an email that wind damage is causing the outages. That information was also shared on Water and Light's Facebook page.
Fires were reported in Columbia on Navejo Avenue and Elleta Boulevard. Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez said in a message that no injuries were reported and that the causes of the house fires are under investigation.
Rodriguez said the wind is playing a factor.
Mizzou softball evacuates stadium
Mizzou softball shared on its X page that its stadium had been evacuated because of the storms. The team asked fans to stay away from the stadium.
First pitch against Michigan was initially set for 5:30 p.m. The start of the game has been delayed.
Due to inclement weather on Friday, March 14, Softball’s game against Michigan has been delayed. The Mizzou Softball Stadium has been evacuated. Please refrain from heading to the stadium at this time. Further details coming soon. pic.twitter.com/eG9KRUxwgz
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) March 14, 2025
Boone County Office of Emergency Management at Level 3
The Boone County Office of Emergency Management wrote in a Friday afternoon press release that it is at a Level 3 activation ahead of the storms. OEM staff is actively monitoring conditions and are available to coordinate resources as requested.
Kehoe issues executive order declaring state of emergency
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order on Friday that declared a state of emergency in the state ahead of the storms.
““The National Weather Service has warned that this fast-approaching storm is likely to bring severe weather across the state, including high winds and an increased risk of tornadoes,” Kehoe said in the release. “I urge all Missourians to stay alert, monitor weather forecasts, and follow official warnings.”
The Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan -- which enables state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions to provide assistance – has been activated by the order, the release says.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
