Clinton recovering after two tornadoes strike Wednesday night
CLINTON, Mo. (KMIZ)
The National Weather Service has determined that two tornadoes moved through Clinton in southwest Missouri on Wednesday night.
Clinton Fire Chief Mark Manuel said the National Weather Service was in town Thursday morning, surveying storm damage.
"The first one on the southern portion of town was the EF-1," Manuel said. "The second one about the northern portion of town was EF-0."
According to Manuel, the last time the town had a tornado was 10 years ago.
People in Clinton were working to rebuild after Wednesday’s severe storm caused widespread damage across the community. Manuel said the town experienced minor-to-moderate damage.
"It seemed like everybody was handling the situation fairly well," Manuel said. "Minor to minimal damage or moderate damage to some residential structures in town."
At least two unoccupied outbuildings were destroyed, while Clinton Elementary School had damage to its rooftop HVAC units. Solar panels at the intermediate school were also damaged.
"Luckily, we had no injuries. We did not have a lot of property damage besides trees in town," said Manuel.
Resident Isaiah Berry said he was driving back to Clinton from Columbia during the storm and described the ride as unforgettable.
“It got dark very quickly. We could see the storm rolling in,” he said. “We didn’t see any tornadoes touch down, but the conditions were bad. We drove through Sedalia and Boonville, and there was heavy rain and hail.”
Berry said the damage was limited, but the winds were strong.
"It was blowing some cars. You can see them swerving on the lanes a little bit, trying to keep in," he said.
Manuel said that emergency alert systems performed as expected, with tornado sirens and other warnings activating properly. He added that Wednesday’s storm serves as an important reminder for residents to stay prepared during severe weather.
"The town is equipped with storm sirens. Those are designed for outdoor warning only. So if you're in your house, you may not hear those outdoor sirens," Manuel said. "So don't depend on thee outdoor sirens to give you warning."
He encourages residents to invest in a weather radio, have a safety plan in place, and remain alert during severe weather events.
Clinton School District students were learning from home on Thursday because of the damage. Angie Lawson, spokeswoman for the district, said the most significant damage was reported at Clinton Intermediate School, where a few air conditioning units were displaced or damaged, and a minor roof leak was identified.
Solar panels on the roof were also damaged but have since been safely disconnected. Crews have already begun repairs, with most systems expected to be restored quickly. A few units will need to be replaced.
School is set to be in session Friday.
Wednesday night, Henry County Sheriff Aaron Brown told ABC 17 News that a tornado appeared to have touched down near Calvird Drive between Second Street and Highway 13. Crews reported downed trees in several areas, and a building at American Building Products on Second Street was destroyed. No injuries were reported.
