Greers Ferry digging out from tornado
By Louis Short / Sun-Times Staff
Published: Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:43 AM CDT
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Hundreds of homes were destroyed when an EF3 tornado (wind speeds 136 to 165 miles per hour) struck Cleburne County around 9 a.m. Friday. The tornado, although still not confirmed, is believed to have come within a half mile of the West Side School. The school was full of students at the time of the storm. “As of (Tuesday morning) we know there are approximately 190 homes that received damage,” said Billy Cockrell, director of the Cleburne County Office of Emergency Services. “Of those homes, approximately 30 are completely destroyed. I fully expect the total number of homes hit to exceed 200.” Nearly a dozen businesses were damaged or destroyed in the storm, including damage to one Greers Ferry Fire Station.
The tornado, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock, trekked over 40 miles, starting near Birdtown in Conway County, traveling near Damascus in Van Buren County, and ending approximately five miles north, northwest of Drasco in Cleburne County. The twister that struck the Greers Ferry area was reported as the strongest in the state during the outbreak Friday. As Doppler radar images showed Heber Springs in the direct path of the storm Friday morning, warning sirens were sounded across the county. The storm was headed directly toward Heber Springs, with an estimated strike time of 8:50 a.m. Just a few minutes before 9 a.m., the storm veered north, hitting Pryor Mountain, Christopher Drive, Burning Tree Road, Emerald Isle, Hwy 92, Frontier Canyon, and other areas around Greers Ferry.
Greers Ferry Mayor Shelly Davis, Greers Ferry Police Chief Ray Dearmon, Greers Ferry police officers, Fire, EMS, Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department, and other area law enforcement were evaluating emergency scenes within minutes of the storm passing. They were out making sure everyone was safe and accounted for; making sure anyone that needed help received help.
Several residences damaged or destroyed were waterfront homes. “There were approximately 20 different locations where boat docks were destroyed. There was a concern of a HAZMAT situation and we found about two boats leaking material into the lake and that has been contained. I estimate 15 boats there are submerged or partially submerged.”
Cockrell said they were unaware of the possible HAZMAT situation regarding the boats until Monday. “Our primary concern was the safety of human life. We were concerned if anyone was injured or killed and in the event something like this happens again, we will still focus first and foremost on human life.”
Although no human lives were lost in the Greers Ferry storm, animals were killed. “There were approximately 250 dogs and puppies lost in the storm. There were also two horses and hundreds of chickens. I am unsure if any cows were lost.”
Greers Ferry City Hall has been the location of the command center since Friday. “We have been running the command center 24 hours a day,” said Cockrell. “We will continue to operate the rest of the week and reevaluate everything Saturday.”
A curfew was put into place Friday night. “This was used as a deterrent to keep looters out of the area. We were not keeping people from their homes, but trying to keep people away that didn’t belong.”
The National Guard was requested and arrived around midnight Friday. “A platoon of 24 has been here helping. They started at 8 a.m. Saturday and will be here at least through Wednesday morning.”
The Guard, along with Greers Ferry Police, deputies from the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and other law enforcement has been operating checkpoints.
Anyone needing access to the damaged areas have been required to obtain a pass from the command center. “Again, this isn’t to keep anyone from their homes, but to ensure the safety of their property from looters.”
Those that lost their homes, or are here helping in the cleanup efforts, are staying at a nearby shelter. “The Budd Creek Camp has been open since Friday. It was set up within two hours.
“The National Guard is staying there and anyone that needs to stay there during this cleanup time can do so. They have male and female quarters. They have been feeding three times a day and there are showers available.”
Cockrell said a few donations are needed. “We need chainsaws and bottled water. They can be dropped of at the Greers Ferry City Hall or the command center.”
A multitude of organizations have helped with the recovery efforts. The Cleburne County Health Unit was in Greers Ferry Monday and Tuesday afternoons administering tetanus shots. “I can’t think of all of them at this time, but I do want to let the Southern Baptist group, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army know they are appreciated. They have worked together to ensure food is distributed to checkpoints and people are fed. They have done a great job.”
