High winds rake through Schell City

Photos by Lynn A. Wade/Daily Mail-- Bill Ramsell waves to neighbors who stopped by to see what help was needed Monday afternoon, at his home in Schell City, after what officials believe were intense, straight-line winds tore through the community earlier that day.

The damaging winds came quickly -- even though Schell City clerk Sharon Sanderson had sounded the tornado sirens, many said they had too little time to take cover when the storm let loose its wrath on the small town, shortly after 2 p.m., Monday.

A severe thunderstorm had torn through the area already, causing little damage; but a short time later the gale-force winds estimated at 80 mph or more struck the town with a vengeance. At about the same time, the National Weather Service was tracking a tornado that also went through Vernon County, nearby, triggering the tornado warning for that portion of Vernon County as well as parts of Cedar and St. Clair counties.

"I had asked if I needed to sound the sirens, they said, 'no.' But then they called back and said there was a tornado," Sanderson said. Moments later the winds raked through the town, ripping trees up by their roots, tearing down numerous power lines, crashing into roofs and blocking roadways as they fell. The winds ravaged homes, driving hail and debris into windows, leaving nearly every home in the northern section of the town with broken windows.

Michael Rodgers, Schell City, sharpens a chain saw after having put it to much use in an effort to clear debris from the streets in the town, in the wake of Monday's storm.

Michael Rodgers said he was on his way to the First Christian Church for shelter, in an effort to help children and older people into the structure as well, but didn't really make it in time.

"There was very little time," Sanderson said.

By late Monday afternoon, emergency crews were well on their way to assessing the injuries, which were few. One older woman who receives oxygen therapy, was without it for a short time, and a young girl reported cuts and scrapes. No one had reported a serious injury.

Garbage cans call attention to a fallen power line. Lines like this one were down on every street in the small Vernon County town. No firm estimate of how long it would take to restore power was available.

Rodgers and several others were working to clear trees from one of the streets in town. A block away, MoDOT crews were clearing a street as well. Neighbors were converging on homes a block to the north as well. Most of the streets, especially those on the north side of town, were impassible due to fallen trees and power lines, as well as standing water, but by 5 p.m. many streets had been cleared substantially, except in those places where downed power lines had fallen.

"It's up to Aquila, now," one of the residents said. After power lines are moved out of the way more cleanup will take place. Many Schell Citians used the time to cover broken windows and assess what else needed to be done.

Neighbors were stopping by to help one another. One took it upon herself to distribute water and sports drinks.

At Bill and Pat Ramsell's house, trees had damaged the roof and more. Family and friends were preparing to help out as EMS workers stopped by to check on their well-being, having heard that Pat is on oxygen. Her supply was sufficient and intact, thanks largely to the fact that a service representative was at her home when the thunderstorm began. Her portable oxygen tanks last for three hours, and she admits she would have had a problem if he hadn't been there.

Ramsell said that the storm had brought with it hail nearly the size of tennis balls. She didn't see the storm though, although hearing it was an experience she won't soon forget. "I've heard a lot of sounds, but I've never heard anything like it. It was absolutely horrible." The previous storm having passed, the new wave took them by surprise, and there wasn't time to seek shelter in a concrete-reinforced area, so she took shelter in the shower and others in the house sheltered as best they could. "We had just gotten the all-clear from the other storm when all hell broke loose," she said.

Standing on her porch as others offered help, she said, "One thing about a town like this. Like you or not, there's lots of people there to help you." Ramsell also took comfort in knowing that no one had been seriously hurt or killed, a sentiment many others had expressed as well -- "Trees can be cleaned up. Things can be fixed. Lives can't."

Across town, Schell City Housing, which houses senior citizens, was without power and had many broken windows, but no serious injuries were reported there by 6 p.m., Monday. Other areas had reported damage, including power outages in the Harwood area and an undetermined amount of damage in the Indian Springs area. Reports from these areas were sketchy as of 6 p.m., Monday. One Vernon County resident said he had sighted the tornado that had spawned the warning, north of HH near the Vernon/Cedar county line. Damage in Schell City appeared to be from straight-line winds.

"When you see a hurricane on the news -- it was like that," Sanderson said.