SULLIVAN, Mo. — On Saturday night, downed powerlines bordered scattered metal and debris from buildings in Sullivan, Missouri.
Severe storms hammered the bi-state that afternoon through the evening, causing damage throughout the region. Preliminary findings from the National Weather Services indicate tornadoes touched down in Valley Park, Missouri, and in Monroe County, Illinois.
While a tornado was not confirmed in Crawford County, residents felt a similar impact.
Heavy rains and winds knocked metal and wood off of a retail building on Church and Main streets across from the Sullivan Fire Department.
Just down the road, part of the roof of the city's Street Department building flew off.
The remnants of the structure sat behind street-closed signs and caution tape after crews worked quickly to maneuver the damage.
A viewer showed 5 On Your Side a photo of a large tree uprooted near his house.
Emergency managers said they had to address water damage and debris throughout the area.
Crawford Electric Co-op and city residents had hundreds without power.
There was roadway damage on secondary roads.
“Unfortunately, you can have all the prep in the world, all the storm spotters, and you just don’t know where these things are going to strike,” said Jared Boast, Crawford County’s commissioner for District 2
5 On Your Side spoke to a man who had to take shelter as he was out and about when the storm hit. He described golf ball-sized hail.
"That wind was kicking it. It was probably hitting I would say 70, 80 miles per hour. I was sitting in my truck. I drive an '08 Ford Edge, and it was rocking back and forth when I was sitting in that bank drive-up up there. Underneath that roof. But yeah, it got pretty wild,” said Jim Short.
The city had plans to reassess damage in the daylight on Sunday.
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