The Associated Press is reporting today that one Arkansan died Wednesday night after a round of strong storms passed through the state.
“I can confirm that we have one fatality,” Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss told the AP, but he declined to identify the victim or provide more details.
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Renee Preslar had said four people were injured during the storms, including three who were in a home that was destroyed near Pearson in Cleburne County.
Moss would not say whether the victim was among those three.
The storms, which forecasters had been warning about since the weekend, missed much of the state’s populated areas.
About 1,600 customers remained without power Thursday morning, with Entergy Arkansas reporting on its Web site nearly 1,500 outages from southwestern to northeastern Arkansas. First Electric Cooperative reported 83 outages, most of those in Saline County just southwest of Little Rock.
There were no reports of significant damage in Union County, though there have been reports that a small tornado was spotted near Mount Holly.
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U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln has issued the following statement about Wednesday night’s storms:
“My heart goes out to the families affected by the severe weather that hit our state last evening. I pray for the family and loved ones of the Cleburne County resident who lost his life. I also pray for the quick recovery of those injured in this devastating storm.
“As Arkansans, we have experienced our share of severe weather. Through it all, our citizens remain strong and resilient and neighbors reach out to help neighbors. I am especially thankful for the courageous and skilled emergency responders in our state.
“My office has been in close contact with officials in the areas affected by these storms. Arkansans should know that their federal government will be there for them in their time of need. That’s why I will continue to stay in close contact with local, state, and federal officials, and I will work hand-in-hand with the affected communities to provide any support needed from the federal level.”
