ST. MARY – The National Weather Service Storm damage survey crews found at least three tornadoes yesterday.
The highest rated was EF-3 in Fredericktown with a maximum wind speed of 140 MPH.
The tornado that went through St. Mary was at maximum an EF-2 with 120 MPH winds.
The tornado that hit Coffman was at maximum an EF 1 with 107 MPH winds.
The survey crew is expected to continue its work today.
There have been no reports of injuries and no fatalities associated with the storm.
Randolph County Emergency Operations Center PIO Larry Willis said people were prepared
“Everyone’s got cell phones, and they get their weather alerts on their cell phones, and if they are not doing that, they are watching the television, listening to the radio, they have their weather radios. I think that played a major role, plus the fact that this was predicted for about two days. The (National) Weather Service did a real good job and the media did too…of telling the people, ‘Hey, we are going to have a situation this weekend, probably Sunday, and it is going to get kind of dicey.’ I think people paid attention to that, especially when the sirens and the weather radios and cell phones started going off,” he said.
In addition to the miraculous lack of injuries and deaths in the tornadoes, there was more good news Monday.
The so-called “Tornado Doggie” has been claimed.
The couple who lives in the tornado-ravaged house where the dog was found was reunited with their pet in an emotionally joyous reunion yesterday morning according to Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Barton, the county’s animal control officers.
Her owner said in a Facebook post, “That’s our fur baby! We are so blessed that she’s okay!! Thank you guys!! I’m so glad she’s safe now and no injuries she’s spooked but she’s starting to act like herself again.”
Barton says the “Tornado Doggie” was found under some rubble in the tornado-damaged house across the Seventh Street from the St. Mary Antique Mall — uninjured.
The female dog was taken to the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office kennel for temporary safekeeping until the owners could be located.
Meanwhile, Citizens Electric Corporation (CEC) linemen, engineers, and contractors have been working since late Sunday evening to repair storm damage in Ste. Genevieve and Perry County.
The tornadoes caused widespread damage with 1,700 members losing power. Crews worked to replace more than 30 poles, replace downed transmission lines, repair, straighten and reframe poles.
CEC officials said the public is reminded to never touch, move, or drive over downed power lines when clearing debris from yards, roads, driveways, and other areas.
To report an outage, please call 1-877-876-3511 and follow the prompts.
Ste. Genevieve County Assessor Linda Wagner announced Monday that her office is seeking information from persons who have been displaced from their homes because of the tornadoes. She says their property tax assessment could be reduced if it cannot be occupied, resulting in a tax savings for the taxpayer.
She said those who have been displaced from their property by the tornado should contact her office at 573 883 2333 option 4.
Time is short, as tax bills will be going out soon.
The director of nursing at Three Springs Lodge nursing home in Chester said Monday all residents were safe and sound following the tornado. J.D. Appel said the building suffered some roof damage, but the roof stayed intact and was not blown off as some rumors indicated. She said the residents followed the nursing home’s tornado plan by moving to an interior hallway during the storm. Some residents have been relocated temporarily until repairs to the roof can be completed. She also said they lost some trees to the storm as well.