Union County saw a collection of severe weather warnings last night including isolated tornados, flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail warnings. The Smackover and Norphlet Fire Departments were called out to handle fallen trees in their towns.
El Dorado Fire Chief Chad Mosby said trees fell all around the county, but there was nothing major in the city of El Dorado.
Severe storms started shortly before 5 p.m., when wind rotation began over Smackover with warnings to residents to remain inside. About 30 minutes later, rotating winds were spotted near Calion.
Entergy reported 2,561 power outages in Union County. Customer service representative Chris Wasson said reports of broken electric poles were received in Mt. Holly, past Parks Country Store, and Norphlet.
He said with multiple broken poles in both areas, restoration times could be longer than normal. For each broken pole, restoration takes between two and three hours, he said. Restoration efforts will continue into today.
Norphlet Mayor Jim Crotty said the city primarily suffered from downed trees and power lines.
“I didn’t see a funnel,” Crotty said. “It was very strong, I was out there watching it when it happened. It was the hardest blowing I’ve seen.”
At one point, one of the city’s entrances, Padgett Road, was blocked by trees, but, with help from city residents, has since been cleared. Trees were also downed at the Norphlet schools’ campus, he said.
The press box at Lambert Field, the city’s baseball field, was torn off by the wind as well, he said.
Crotty said between six and eight houses in Norphlet were hit by downed trees, but, thankfully, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. At one point, he saw 40 first responders and volunteers gathered to help lift trees from their neighbors’ homes.
“Thank goodness everybody’s alright. We’ve just got strokes of damage that we can repair. Everybody’s got insurance,” Crotty said. “We’ve just got a lot of mess to clean up the next few days, and get everybody’s power restored.”
Crotty said the roads in Norphlet have since been cleared. He said he spoke with Calion Mayor Bill Yutzy and Smackover Mayor Bobby Neal, who both said damage in their areas was minimal.
Norphlet Fire Chief Sonny Harper said the department took 10 calls in about two and a half hours between 5:15 and 7:45. Three homes had limbs land on them and one house near the Norphlet schools was “cut in half” by a pine tree, he said.
Harper confirmed that no injuries had been reported. All roads are either open or partially open, but some trees were large enough that the department will require aid from the county.
According to the Buckaroo Blog, the Norphlet schools will not conduct classes today due to damage from the storms. Students are directed to complete their day two AMI assignments. Smackover schools will be open. All bus routes, including those in Norphlet and Calion, will run for the Smackover schools.
Union County Judge Mike Loftin said he has crews working on downed trees in Mt. Holly, Lisbon and Wesson Road. He said he heard reports of a tree down across Highway 82, west of Cairo.
“Unless you have some more storms tonight (last night), I think we’re in good shape,” he said. “As far as I know, right now we’re in good shape.”
He also said state police are working on state highways. A representative for the Arkansas State Police said the department is working in a support capacity with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.
For an up to date report of the storm, see eldoradonews.com.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].
Michael Shine can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].