Building damage and widespread power outages follow storm

Trees were down on structures along Stoddard Street, and in the downtown Dexter area.

Photo provided

Stoddard County was hit by winds of 75 miles an hour and higher early Sunday morning, resulting in damage to property, widespread power outages and trees down.

No injuries had been reported as of 8:30 a.m., said Bo Bishop, Stoddard County Emergency Management Agency director.

“It was high winds that came threw,” explained Bishop. “We had a tornado warning but as far was we know, nothing touched down.

Trees lay in a yard along Stoddard Street around downtown Dexter.

Photo provided

“We’ve got trees and power lines downing throughout the county, mainly from the southern end of the county through the central area.”

The storm moved through Stoddard County at approximately 7-7:45 a.m., after causing similar damage in Butler County.

Bishop asked that residents stay home and not try to view the storm damage this morning, as it could hinder efforts to clean up or repair power lines.

Part of this wall collapsed at a structure on Walnut Street.

Photo provided

“I do know the equipment shed for the city of Dexter Street Department collapsed,” Bishop said. “They’re trying to dig their equipment out.”

Several trees are down in East Park at Dexter and a house at Dexter also had most of its roof ripped off, Bishop said.

“All of the area fire departments are out checking those areas,” he said. “It was basically high winds and a lot of tree damage and power lines down.”

As of 8:30 a.m., SEMO Electric reported 1,551 homes without power north of Dexter, in the Bloomfield area. Other outages they had include: 123 in Dexter and the surrounding area; 39 at Essex; 167 in the Advance area; and 15 in Bell City.

Ozark Border reported nearly 2,300 customers without power in Stoddard County, more than half its customers there.

Ameren reported about 1,100 outages in central Stoddard County.