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Fallen trees, high winds, hail cause widespread damage
Published Monday, May 4, 2009
NATCHEZ — High winds — likely more than 70 mph — toppled trees, tore off roofs and left much of the Miss-Lou in darkness Sunday.
The storm hit Concordia Parish at approximately 9:30 a.m. and moved into Adams County by 9:45. Ten to 15 minutes later it was over.
The National Weather Service’s equipment in Adams County stopped functioning at 9:30 a.m., Meteorologist Ed Agre said, so exact wind speeds aren’t known.
“We were calling for 70 mph winds,” he said. “Hattiesburg got 61 mph winds, so it must have started out quite a bit higher than that.”
Initially 12,000 of Entergy’s approximately 18,000 Southwest Mississippi customers were without power, Customer Service Manager Stephen Caruthers said.
But by 6 p.m. only 8,000 customers remained in the dark. That number included the entire town of Fayette, where a transmission line was downed.
Of the 8,000, Caruthers was hopeful 2,000 more would regain power before Sunday night ended.
Other Entergy customers were expected to be without power into today and possibly Tuesday, he said.
“Our goal is to hit this hard the rest of the day and hit it hard (Monday),” he said. “We’ve got folks who have arrived (to help) and we have a significant number of crews coming (Monday).”
Trees and tree limbs falling on power lines caused most of the Adams County outages, Caruthers said. Approximately 20 power poles were also broken due to the trees and winds.
Areas with the most damage to power lines included: U.S. 61 North in the Morgantown area, Liberty Road, Duncan Park, Melrose-Montebello subdivision, John R. Junkin Drive near the Natchez Mall and Homochitto Street.
Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association customers were also without power much of the day.
Adams County Emergency Management Director Stan Owens said at least 41 structures had some kind of damage. Of those, 15 residences had major damage or were destroyed, he said.
Seven or eight businesses had significant damage, including the Adams County Port, Fred’s Nursery, Rivergate Bowl, the Briars and the Canal Depot.
“It’s really all over,” Owens said. “It’s really scattered around.”
The damage report was much of the same in Concordia Parish, Emergency Management Director Morris White said.
Portions of Vidalia and Ferriday lost power when the storm hit, but had regained it by nightfall.
White said a tornado reportedly touched down in Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish, but strong winds also damaged Concordia Parish.
“I personally don’t think we had a tornado,” White said. “It was just (damage) all over.”
Both the parish and Adams County saw small hail and heavy rainfall as well. Neither area was reporting injuries from the storm.
Agre said the National Weather Service would be sending a crew to the area today to inspect damage and better determine the cause.
“It looked like a pretty well organized squall line that came through,” he said.
The storm continued to move eastward across the state but did not produce any tornados that touched down, Agre said.
Comments
Posted by hitchcock (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Weather Channel said it was a microburst & derecho.
Posted by DuncanPark (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY DID "The National Weather Service’s equipment in Adams County stopped functioning at 9:30 a.m."?!
What good is the equipment if bad weather is going to cause it to stop working just when it's need the most?!
Posted by nd (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 5:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God is GOOD. I had a very large tree fall in my yard and luckily it didn't fall on the house because my kids were in there at the time, so I'm very thankful that the Lord saw fit to let that tree land in the open section of the yard. In the midst of a storm you see the good, the bad, and the ugly in mankind, but I still know who reigns and lives. JESUS because he was definitely in all of our corners yesterday.
Posted by veroniss (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 5:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I MYSELF AND MANY MORE PEOPLE KNOW IT WAS A TORNADO. SOME SEEN IT. THE GRACE OF GOD IS SO GOOD.THANK YOU JESUS FOR PROTECTION.I WAS IN CHURCH AND 'VE BEEN AROUND TORNADOES BEFORE THAT WAS NO...HIGH WINDS.I'M SO GLAD EVERYONE IS OK.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the way it came in, and the sound
was just like the tornado that hit not long ago
we had marble sized hail along Sgt Prentiss
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was really impressed at how well the Code Red weather warning system worked. My phone buzzed and rang untill the storm hit. Because of the early warning system I had plenty of time to assemble the family and get them to a safe area in my house. It was rough in my hood. But being a survivor, I survived.
Posted by gerandall58 (Greg Randall) on May 4, 2009 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well, they can say what they want, I heard a roar like I have never heard before and I am almost deaf =) . Myself , I think it was a tornado that didn't touch down here in town, and you are right veroniss and nd THANK GOD
Posted by tj4sho88 (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why on earth are most of the schools in Natchez open but don't have any power. Frazier Primary for example has no lights but school is in session. If there is an emergency, what happens next. You looking at a big lawsuit Natchez!! Stupid. And where are all the Entergy workers?? There is little or no work being done to fix this mess!!!
Posted by bruno (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you tj2sho88. They are not the only ones in school Trinity has no power and no phone that is just stupid
what if something bad happened.
Posted by iomo (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was also impressed with the Code Red system calling my house, not once, but twice. If you haven't signed up for this service it is well worth it.
I saw trucks from Entergy out on Liberty Road and Palestine Road. I also saw trucks from Pike County that came to help. There's a lot of damage out there, I guess it takes time to get it all done.
Schools can have class without power. Most of the schools have large windows to let light in. As long as their phones still work they should be covered in case of an emergency.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
normally schools might would cancel but I believe a few of the schools have already had so many missed days they can't afford to close. They state only allows so many days to close without having to make them up on saturday.
Posted by opinsab (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does any one know the web address for code red?
Posted by rburke1 (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Darn! Looks like ya'll need me back in town.
Posted by coacht (T.BOB KIRK) on May 4, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BETTER TO BE IN SCHOOL WITH NO LIGHTS THAN AT HOME PLAYING. YOU PEOPLE ACT LIKE ITS THE END OF THE WORLD WHEN THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY, AND IF SOMEONE TOOK YOUR CELL PHONE YOU WOULD DIE.
GET A LIFE
Posted by purecountry (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
REA/Southwest need to have them butts out Liberty Road....way out Liberty Road, they said it could be Thursday until we get power and phone services.
Posted by tj4sho88 (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
coacht....Franklin Co. schools don't have power and they are not in session today--they are also 5 rated schools. Natchez has no power and are in school today--most are 2 or 3 rated schools. Now you do the math and get yourself a life. It's not the end of the world with no power but it's also not safe or sanitary to have little children there with no power for 7 hours.
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mississippi Woman Killed by Tree as Storms Cross Southeast
ATLANTA — Authorities say a line of severe storms crossing the Southeast killed a Mississippi woman, knocked out power to about 16,000 customers in Alabama and Georgia and caused some property damage in at least three states.
A coroner says a 46-year-old Laurel, Miss., woman was killed when a tree fell on her while she was standing outside her home Sunday in the southeastern part of the state.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,5187...
Thankfully no one that I've heard of was hurt during yesterday's storm. We may have some damage around town, and some power outages, but we're all still here to grumble about the power companies not getting around to our neck of the woods yet. It could be that the power companies are neck deep in restoring power all across the line of the storm. If you will think about Afghanistan or Iraq, having to send your kids to school without power here in Mississippi shouldn't seem like such a hardship, at least you don't have to send your children to school in a warzone. God bless all those affected by the storm. Peace4allpeople.
Posted by cgoodwin (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe the people complaining that nothing is being done should get off their computers and go do something about it. if you were out helping your neighbors you wouldn't have so much time to complain. further more whats the difference in your kids being without lights at home instead of at school where they are at least getting some education??? the answer is simple if you'd rather your kids be in the dark at home then keep them there. there are actually people out there that were really affected by this storm that are facing more than just these trival problems. maybe everyone should take a minute to think about how thankful they should be....
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
burke if you're the one in Oxford we DO NOT need you back in town.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All due respect Tj4sho88, but it's just as unsanitary to be at home without lights than it is to be at school without them. At least they can let them go outside and play together. They won't be bored and hot. They just might let them back out. Just my honest opinion.
Seriously, I think the schools operate today, so they won't have to make up for extra days towards the summer.
Posted by SableSkye (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I as well believe it was a tornado. I saw jaw braker size hail, and it was so load.
Posted by hitchcock (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it was a tornado also. These fancy names they have come up with like derecho and microbrust are for the birds.
Posted by cgoodwin (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i also agree it was a tornado or as in the parts we like to call them "straight line winds". whatever the name it was scary!! it didn't last very long but we got our butts in the closet!!
Posted by st8player37 (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry you all, it was not a tornado.
Posted by mslugirl (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Morris White stated that portions of Ferriday and Vidalia were without lights, but they were back on before nightfall. Well, I guess he doesn't represent Ridgecrest, as our lights went off around 9:30AM yesterday and did not come back on until almost noon today. If he is going to represent Concordia Parish, he should represent the entire area, and get his facts straight before he makes a comment. And I do believe we had a tornado. If he had only seen the damage in our area, he may agree. I know of two houses that have trees in them and one truck with a tree across the bed of it in Ridgecrest. Does he even know where Ridgecrest is?
Posted by cesmith (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know I hate not having electricity as much as the next person. But like it was said, there is nothing you can do about not having them but wait. Why not get out in your neighborhood and help someone that needs help. My family owns/runs the business at Fred's Greenhouse and we are dealing with A LOT of damage, but we are not sitting around complaining about it. We have been up there trying to repair what we can. Enough with everyone telling other people to get a life - apparently if you are telling someone else to get a life, then you obviously don't have one yourself!! If anyone is to complain, it would be someone who is in a similar situation to myself and my family but we aren't complaining... We are doing something about it!
Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Kingston took a lickin' we just got power. All these crews are working non stop to restore power. Give them a break they are working really hard. (opinsab) you can call the Civil Defense office at 442-7021, Angela and Stan will be more than happy to get you set up it's a great service, you can have your home number and or cell phone. Get it, it's wonderful.
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What I found most disheartening was a total lack of information on the radio. Granted, "The souths country giant" usually goes off the air during bad weather, but when they finally came back on air, it was time for the top 40 countdown!? Didn't have any luck with the other local stations either. Sitting in the dark leaves you plenty of time to go from one end of the dial to the other, several times. Do they not have backup power?
Posted by mslugirl (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cesmith...I was not complaining about not having electricity,,I actually enjoyed the quiet around here. I was stating that the Civil Defense "Director" in Concordia Parish didn't have a clue about the whole of the Parish before he made a statement to the Democrat. And no one said we were sitting around complaining and doing nothing. It was simply the fact that our area was completly ingnored that ticked me off. We have a yard to clean, and you cannot "sit around doing nothing" when there is work to be done. I was really impressed with the work done by Energy. It could have been a lot worse.
Posted by faithblessings (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
opinsab,you have to log in too code red, they will notify you by phone twice. and by e-mail. It's great so far...........
Posted by cesmith (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mslugirl, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular. I just get aggravated reading things where all people do is complain about what someone else has said... It is called a comment for a reason... YOU get to post YOUR comment and thoughts!!! I am not bashing anyone or anyone elses opinions, just stating my own...
Posted by Robin58 (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in Kingston. I would like to thank every body that was out in the rain with chainsaws clearing trees from the road. I'm sure there were several people but the ones that I saw out there working hard in the rain were Doug McIlwaine, Dusty McIlwaine and George Bunch. Thanks Guys.
Posted by ptrsdoe (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like Mother Nature is taking it out on Natchez! Wow, the storms just keep coming. There should be an emergency shelter established for people to go to after the storm. My parents are still without power and because of poor health need to be kept cool. At what time is the Red Cross called in for assistance or MEMA/FEMA? There needs to be a strategic plan in place for these disasters. It seems they are happening on a regular basis and thus far it is the same routine. Everyone is held captive until power is restored. Whether that be 2 hours or 2 days or 2 weeks. I understand the power company is doing all it can. At what point do the City Father's declare an emergency? I think it is passed time.
Posted by st8player37 (anonymous) on May 4, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
...INTENSE DOWNBURST IN ADAMS COUNTY MS...
TIME OF EVENT: 945 AM 5/3/09
LOCATION: NATCHEZ
RATING: WINDS 80-90 MPH
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
SUMMARY OF DAMAGES:
INTENSE DOWNBURST WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A LARGE BOWING LINE OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTED MUCH OF THE CITY OF NATCHEZ. HUNDREDS
OF TREES, BOTH HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOODS, WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED
ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF LIMBS. TREES FELL ON AT LEAST 41 STRUCTURES
INCLUDING HOMES AND OUTBUILDINGS, CAUSING MAJOR OR MINOR DAMAGE.
MANY POWERLINES WERE SNAPPED BY THE WINDS OR TREES/LIMBS FALLING ON
THEM. THE DAMAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A LARGE AREA AND MORE INDICATIVE
OF STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.
http://www.weather.gov/view/prodsByState...
Posted by El_Gran_Rogelio (anonymous) on May 7, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those "fancy names" are reality, my friends. Derechos can produce winds stronger than weak tornadoes in many cases, and winds of hurricane strength.
A roar has nothing to do with whether or not a wind is a tornado. Any severe wind can produce this sound,
Twisting of trees has nothing to do with whether or not a wind is a tornado. Trees aren't perfectly symmetrical and balanced, so any severe wind can cause differential force on one side versus the other, twisting the tree.
Roof removal has nothing to do with whether or not a wind is a tornado. It has more to do with the (lack of) quality of the construction. Any severe thunderstorm wind can uncork a roof off a house if it is not anchored at every fastened wall-joist joint by hurricane clips. Build the house better, and that won't happen. A properly attached roof will stay on a properly anchored house even in the great majority of tornadoes, which are weak (EF0-EF1).
What is a derecho? Learn more here.
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos...
Saying it was a tornado 'til your face turns blue doesn't make it a tornado. That event was a derecho. Period. Surveys by well-educated and experienced meteorologists have established this.
Anyone is welcome to post -- right here -- a web link to their clear photograph of their "tornado" to prove otherwise. Not the damage, the actual "tornado"...shall anyone step up and meet this challenge?
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