Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
State Emergency Operations Center
501-683-6700

STATE SITUATION SUMMARY

Tornado
02/10/2008 11:49

STATEMENT

Severe storms moved through the state on February 5th generating numerous tornados, large hail, and damaging winds that resulted in fatalities, injuries, and property damage across several counties. Tornados confirmed In Ashley, Baxter, Conway, Izard, Montgomery, Newton, Sharp, Stone, and Van Buren counties.

DECLARATIONS

State of Arkansas – the governor issued a written proclamation declaring Baxter, Conway, Independence, Izard, Pope, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, Union, and Van Buren counties, a disaster for the February 5, 2008 storms.

Baxter co – local-written state federal pa-ia-dfa

Conway co – local-written state federal pa-dfa

Franklin co – local-verbal state requested

Independence co – local-written state federal pa-dfa

Izard co – local-written state federal pa-dfa

Lawrence – local-written

Marion co – local-written state requested

Mississippi co – local-verbal

Newton – local-written state requested

Pope co – local-written state federal pa-ia-dfa

Poinsett co – local-verbal

Randolph co- local-written state federal pa-dfa

Sharp co – local-written state federal pa-ia-dfa

Stone co – local-written state federal pa-ia-dfa

Union co – local-written state federal pa-dfa

Van Buren co – local-written state federal pa-ia-dfa

OPERATIONAL COMMAND POST

Baxter co – near Gassville city hall on hwy 62 east

Conway co – Wonderview school

Pope co – Atkins fire department

Sharp co – Connley Ford, hwy 62, highland

Stone co – Mountain View sheriff office

Van Buren co – Clinton Wal-Mart parking lot

EOC’S OPERATIONAL

Pope co – operational

State - EOC operational

HUMAN IMPACT

Deaths

Baxter co – confirmed 1 fatality

Conway co – confirmed 2 fatalities

Izard co – confirmed 2 deaths

Pope co - confirmed 4 fatalities

Stone co - confirmed 1 fatality

Van Buren co – confirmed 3 fatalities

Injuries

Baxter co – 35 injuries two are critical all were transported to Baxter regional hospital.

Izard co – approximately 20 injuries

Pope co – has confirmed multiple injuries in the Atkins (gold hill area) and multiple injuries on i-40. 6 victims were transported to area hospitals - critical transported to st Mary’s hospital in Russellville and non critical transported to Dardanelle hospital

Randolph co – numerous injuries reported in the warm springs area

Sharp co – 6 people transported to hospital, several others treated with minor injuries

Stone co – 2 major injuries several minor

Van Buren co – transported 70 people with minor injuries, 7 with critical injuries

TRANSPORTATION

Baxter co – hwy 62, one lane closed for utility work

Stone co – all roads open, delays and detours due to utility work.

Facilities affected – residential

Baxter co – 75% of the town of Gassville has heavy damage preliminary estimates: over 300 homes with damage-120 are uninhabitable, 20 to 30 businesses damaged no service stations or restaurants operating in the area. Local coordinator reports approximately one mile long area of damage.

Conway co – 33 homes destroyed, 12 with extensive damage, and 13 with minor damage

Crittenden co - 20-30 homes without power. Some power lines down in Crawfordville, James Mill subdivision, & Marion. Entergy is working repairs.

Independence – 1 home with heavy damage.

Marion co – 15-20 homes with light to heavy damaged reported, 7 trailers destroyed and approximately 4-5 damaged. Total of damaged homes was over 20.

Pope co –112 damaged homes: 50 destroyed, 40 with major damage and remainder with minor damages

Pulaski co – homes damaged from tree debris, tree fell across 2 trailers on 714 e. Maddox # 5 was vacant and # 6 was occupied, no injuries.

Randolph co – 5 houses damaged. Heavy residential damage in the warm springs area, 4 destroyed

Saline co – home & trailer house damaged

Sharp co –20 homes moderate damage or destroyed

Stone co – damage to houses

Union co – 10 homes damaged including several overturned mobile homes.

Van Buren co - east of hwy 65, 27 homes totally destroyed in Clinton. 45 county homes are totally destroyed

FACILITIES AFFECTED – PUBLIC

Ashley co – roof blown off Hamburg jr high

Baxter co – heavy damage to trailer park and many businesses

Sharp co – Highland fire department destroyed

Stone co – Mountain View hospital - gas has been shut off until a structural analysis is done, no new patients are being admitted. The high school has lots of damage

Facilities affected – commercial

Baxter co – 50 businesses with damages of varying degrees- no service stations or restaurants operating in the area.

Pope co – damage to 1 chicken hatchery and lucky landing boat dock

Union co - damage to 1st United Methodist church in Junction City

COMMUNICATIONS

Garland co – AWIN and Motorola restored (AWIN) north zone

Sites that are currently running on generator power:

Iron Mt. (Stone co.)

UTILITIES AFFECTED

At the storm’s peak, 49,000 Arkansans were without power. As of today at 10:30 am, that number was down to 19,500. They are working fast with in, and out-of-state crews, and have determined that at least 400-500 poles are down, and have yet to complete the assessment. There could be outages until Saturday

Ashley co – reporting down power lines

Baxter co - Gassville is without power, electric company crews are on scene. Big Flat is without power and water.

Crittenden co – reporting power outages

Drew co – 300 - 400 residents reporting power outages

Mississippi co – reporting numerous power outages & the town of Victoria with out power

Newton co – power outages

Pulaski co – no phone service isolated power outages in the city of Little Rock & county-phone service is restored

Saline co – isolated power outages

Sharp co – boil order in highland, power still out in highland, sewer treatment plant in ash flat is not functional

Stone county – 90-95% of power has not been restored. Water system has a boil order.

Van Buren – power still out for approximately 50 homes near Clinton. Boil order until Wednesday for Clinton and Denard

AGRICULTURE

Poultry and livestock commission to assist in destruction of 80,000 chickens in Conway county
At creekbed near hwy 124 e. Plc team in preparation.