By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The City of Chester is recovering from the tornado that struck Sunday night October 24th. According to Mayor Tom Page, a focused team effort helped to keep citizens safe and that same team effort is helping the community to make a smoother and quicker recovery than one might think.
Mayor Page said, “The City really dodged a bullet last week when the tornado struck. First of all the damage was mainly limited to the loss of storage buildings, sheds, trees, minor roof damage and some structural damage. It could have been a lot worse.”
“Once it hit, our City employees went to work immediately to help those in need. Everyone came together to get the community stabilized. Due to trees and power lines down all over town and on Rt. 150 it was difficult for help to reach us from some directions. Once it was determined safe enough, our City workers began going out to assess the damage and begin helping those in need.”
Very early warnings began to circulate on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week on most TV stations warning of the possibility of severe storms over the weekend. Weather programs stated that conditions were going to be creating perfect conditions for dangerous storms and possibly tornadoes. Most people who were aware of this possibility were already somewhat prepared early in the week.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service in St. Louis, a final report is not complete, however, preliminary investigation indicates that numerous thunderstorms began forming ahead of a cold front in Southeast Missouri in the evening hours of Sunday October 24, 2021.
As these storms moved northeast, they moved into a moist, energy-rich environment with substantial wind shear in the low and mid-levels. Subsequently these storms quickly grew and increased in intensity. They remained somewhat isolated, however, as they moved through southeast Missouri and into southwest Illinois.
These conditions were very favorable for tornadic development and did eventually produce several tornadoes that created wind damage. There were two storms that did produce tornadoes that remained on the ground for significant distances.
One such tornado moved from Fredericktown, Missouri, to Madison County, Missouri, into Perry County Missouri. That tornado stayed on the ground for 18.9 miles.
The other tornado moved from Francois County in Missouri to Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, to Randolph County, Illinois. That storm was the one that eventually struck Chester. It was on the ground for 42 miles.
That tornado existed from approximately 8:23 p.m. until 9:28 p.m. and was classified as an EF-3 tornado at some points. It had a peak of wind speeds at 150 miles per hour and its’ path was 42.4 miles. The width was considered to be somewhat narrow with a maximum width of 450 yards.
The Chester tornado came from the Mississippi Flood Plains and crossed the Mississippi River north of the Menard Correctional Center. It then crossed Rt. 3 south of Lochhead Drive, destroying a small barn, snapping numerous trees, uprooting many other trees, and caused damage to the Ralph Kipp home and some minor damage to the Ace Hardware Store in Chester.
The well-known barn at the Ralph Kipp property is totally destroyed and can’t be repaired. This is how it rests Monday November 1st, 2021. Jim Beers Photo
Workers repair the roof of Ralph Kipp Monday November 1st. Jim Beers Photo
High winds downed several power poles and Ameren power lines were down throughout the path of the tornado.
There was a lot of roof damage on Brenda Street as well. The nearby trailer park also received a lot of tree and roof damage.
This is the house at the corner of Palestine Road and 3-Springs Road. It was in the direct path of the Sunday October 24 tornado that struck Chester. Workers have removed most downed trees from the property and restored access to 3-Springs Road. Tarps have been placed on the roof to protect the interior of the home. Outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed. Jim Beers Photo
According to the National Weather Service some of the worst damage occurred northeast of Palestine Road in Chester and the intersection of 3-Springs Road.
There, a home was damaged and two outside farm buildings were completely destroyed.
One of the buildings was anchored to the concrete foundation by bolts that were placed every 18-24 inches.
The tornado then moved to the northeast corner of Bremen, Illinois paralleling and crossing Rt. 150 where trees, a home and several out-buildings were severely damaged.
The tornado dissipated 1.6 miles northeast of Bremen just west of Rt. 150.
Charlie Bargman II, Emergency Management Coordinator, said, “The U.S. National Weather Service issued a notice of enhanced risk of severe weather and tornadoes on Friday October 22. Then Sunday October 24 there was a tornado watch issued.”
“The City of Chester warning sirens sounded sirens and the telephone warming system, ‘Code Red’ was sounded three times to warn citizens of the impending storm and eventual tornado. People were more than able to take shelter and the warnings even told Chesterites to seek shelter in basement areas when possible.”
According to Bargman, when the tornado hit Chester it came across the Mississippi River from St. Mary’s Missouri, went past the prison, by the Pechacek Funeral home, hit the Kipp and Ace Hardware properties, up Lindy and Brenda Streets, by Trails End at the trailer court, through the woods, by the Beers and Mueller Brother’s property, past the Buening Horse Barn, past Dawn View Road down 3-Springs Road, and the Three Springs Nursing Home, by Union School Road and through the woods to Rt. 150 and eventually to Bremen.
“Along the path of destruction there was all sorts of debris falling from the sky, some from as high as 20,000 feet carried by the tornado. At one point a man found three old farm books dating back to 1954 that came from a place in Jackson, Missouri.”
“The good thing about this storm is that there were no deaths or serious injuries. I attribute that partially to the fact that there was so much early earning about the impending tornado. The City of Chester phone ‘Code Red’ warning system, the National Weather Service warnings and the continuous coverage on all of the local TV stations, including the popular ‘Weather Channel’ helped to have residents safe in their basements.”
Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert said, “When the storm hit, I had our fire department staff stay safe at home until the ‘all-clear’ was sounded. Once it was safe, all personnel reported to the Emergency Command Center located at the Chester Fire House. Charlie Bargman II was in charge of the operation.”
“We were very lucky once we began the task of surveying the City to determine the damage. Two of our early concerns were the Three Springs Nursing Home where part of the roof was damaged, and on Trails End at the trailer court where there was a lot of damage.”
This is the entrance to the trailer park in Chester near Trails End Road. Most trees and major debris have been removed, access to the roadways has been achieved and most trailers have had roofs tarped to protect the interiors of the mobile homes. Jim Beers Photo
“To be truthful, I was initially afraid that we would be trying to locate bodies after the first reports of the wide span of damage at that location. Fortunately there were no major injuries or deaths as a result of the devastation.”
Bert stated that in addition to the wonderful efforts of the Chester Fire Department and Police, he had assistance from all but two Randolph County Fire Departments including Sparta, Steeleville, Ellis Grove, Evansville, Prairie Du Rocher, Tilden, and Red Bud. Due to all of the downed trees and live wires on the highways, it was difficult for help to actually get to Chester until some roadways were safe to travel.
“Local sirens, the City of Chester ‘Code Red’ Phone warnings, the National Weather Service and local TV stations really teamed up to help make people safer and well-informed during this disaster”, said Bert. “We really thank them for their service to early warnings and guidance throughout the event.”
Mayor Tom Page said, “Immediately following the period of danger of the tornado, our City workers including Street Department, Police, and Fire Department, went into action to survey the entire city to find out who and where there was need for immediate assistance.”
“Neighbors were helping neighbors and Emergency Disaster personnel were active determining what needed to be done. The first areas of interest were the Trails End location at the trailer court and the Three Springs Nursing Home. From there police combed every part of town and reported to the Command Center where help was needed.”
“I left the Command Center at the Fire House at approximately 1:00 a.m. and emergency personnel worked into the night to be sure that all were safe and sound. With the assistance of the other local fire departments, it was a true ‘team effort’ to help get the recovery effort off to a good start.”
Ameren Illinois Power Company personnel worked throughout the night and continuously for the nest three days to restore power to the community. By mid-to-late week most TV, cable, and internet was restored. Utility companies worked hard to assist in restoring services to Chester.
At 7:00 a.m. the next morning of Monday October 25, work crews were out in force to begin the recovery efforts. Numerous individuals volunteered with chain saws to help remove the hundreds of trees on roadways and properties all over town.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team from Anna Jonesboro worked diligently at the Brenda Street and Trails End location to help clear trees and debris while the Lutheran Disaster Relief Team from Murphysboro worked at the homes of 100-year old Bob Mueller and 95-year old Ray Mueller to clear their properties.
Local insurance companies were out in force immediately to assist with damage determinations and file claims. Some insurance adjusters were on site as early as Tuesday October 26 and Wednesday October 27.
By late week, most damage had been assessed and efforts were underway to get repairs started. Am Arbor Tree Service of Chester and Dave Harper Tree Service of Sparta were both busy throughout the week offering services to those in need of tree removal.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency was on hand to lend support as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross. Visiting fire departments returned to their home firehouses, but the Chester Fire Department was on call to assist if needed with rescues or other emergency needs.
Insurance companies have arranged for most roof issues to be tarped and covered almost immediately and any major home destruction was temporarily dealt with to provide shelter to occupants.
Personnel from the well-known and very popular TV channel, “The Weather Channel” were in town the night of the tornado scoping out the degree of damage and destruction. Charles Peek and his wife Kathy Peek were seen in their news vehicle on Palestine Read at 11:30 p.m. Sunday October 24 right after the tornado.
The Peeks, from Arkansas, had been in Columbia, Missouri earlier in the day and tracked the storm. Charles Peek said, “We knew this was going to be a huge system and we started reporting on the ‘potential’ of this system on ‘The Weather Channel’ earlier this week.” When asked if they were actually ‘real’ storm chasers, the Peeks said. “That’s what we do!”
The Peeks were at 711 Palestine Road at the Beers home at 11:45 p.m. interviewing Jim and Vicky Beers and taking film footage of the extensive tree damage and other damage to their 2 and 3/4 acre property. The Beers’ had a total of 38 damaged or destroyed trees as well and roof and siding damage, barn roof damage, two fences heavily damaged as well as two out-buildings totally destroyed.
Monday morning November 1st a local construction crew was at the home of Ralph Kipp replacing and repairing the heavily destroyed roof of the well-known home. Across the city, workers had already restored previously blocked travel routes and repairs had already begun.
Charlie Bargman II, Emergency Management Coordinator for Chester said, “Unfortunately the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has determined that Chester did not meet the standards to qualify for State and Federal assistance. Victims of the storm will have to rely on insurance coverage and personal assistance to fully recover from this disaster.”
Mayor Tom Page said, “Thankfully we really dodged a bullet here. There were no injuries, no deaths, and not much total destruction on a city-wide basis. The City is doing all it can to assist with clean up and many other private agencies are chipping in to help out where needed. I can’t say this enough! We really dodged a bullet came together as a community. We are thankful we had no deaths or injuries. This could have been really bad!”