Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns provided this update Thursday morning:
First of all, our hearts go out to the families who suffered catastrophic loss during last night’s tornado, especially those that were injured. Our hopes and prayers will continue as we double-check and make sure everyone is safe and accounted for. Thankfully we have not received any reports of fatalities or missing persons.
During the storm and its immediate aftermath, the Effingham County 911 Center dispatched the following calls for service to law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical personnel:
• 17 calls involving utility-related problems
• 14 calls involving homes, farms, or businesses that sustained heavy damage or structural collapse
• 2 storm-related vehicle accidents
• 2 business alarm calls attributed to weather conditions
• 3 calls involving reports of smoke, gas, or fire odors
• 1 storm-related emergency medical assistance call
•8 weather-related calls, including reports of downed trees, funnel clouds, and tornado touchdowns
Several agencies are still working to check for injured, clear the roads and power lines and assess the damage. Please do not venture into the heavily damaged areas just to look. There are still power lines down and roadways filled with hazards. Please let the emergency crews work.
I know the community will come together to clean up and salvage property like they always do. That is how our community works, but please be careful, there are still hazards to contend with.
Times like these are when we all demonstrate that Effingham County is a great place to live and work.
8:45 a.m. Thursday:
Effingham County Board Chairman Joshua Douthit issued a disaster proclamation Thursday Effingham County in response to a tornado and severe weather in Effingham County.
A disaster proclamation grants Effingham County the ability to expedite the use of county resources, personnel or equipment, and allows the procurement of additional resources to help the county respond to the disaster and assist local communities.
“This Disaster Proclamation allows the immediate and appropriate level of response to assist Effingham County residents, first responders, and other support agencies in the aftermath of the tornado and severe weather in the county,” Douthit said. “At a time when many residents and first responders need support and resources Effingham County will be able to assist when and where appropriate and cooperate with local, state, and federal agencies to continue the recovery and restoration efforts needed for all of our residents.”
8 a.m. Thursday:
A powerful tornado traveled an estimated 12 to 15 miles across northern Effingham County Wednesday night, sending multiple people to the hospital, damaging homes and downing power lines, officials said Thursday morning.
“I heard of one injury that my people said looked serious – a man in the house that was blown over and blown apart,” said Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns. “It was by T-town, close to Route 40. The house was moved off the foundation and then mostly destroyed. I’m going to out briefly and look at the damaged area.”
The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency said the first reports of damage came in around 8 p.m. Wednesday near Beecher City in the northwest corner of the county.
“The tornado traveled east-southeast with the worst damage running from west of Shumway to south of Montrose,” the agency said in a press release.
“At this time, we have received reports of injuries but no fatalities,” EMA Coordinator Pam Jacobs said in the release. “We have also received reports of damaged houses and buildings along the path of the tornado. We are incredibly grateful for the quick action of our first responders.”
Emergency response crews are actively assessing the situation. Kuhns asked the public to avoid impacted areas to allow emergency personnel to do their work. Use extreme caution when traveling, as debris, downed power lines, and other hazards may still be present.
“We had five or less people transported to ER,” Kuhns said Thursday. “No new reports this morning – of course that could change. But as time goes on that’s less and less likely.
“We probably have at least 10 farms or houses that are heavily heavily damaged in that line from Shumway going to south of Montrose and then north of Dieterich.
“Throughout the area there were power lines down and trees down. That’s a big thing, all the power lines down.”
Posted Wednesday night:
Multiple people were taken to the hospital in the wake of a tornado that tore across northern Effingham County, according to Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes.
There were no deaths, Rhodes said. She estimated the number of injured at less than five. She said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
“I’m not sure of the exact number,” she said.
At about 10:30 p.m., fallen trees still blocked the railroad tracks near Effingham Equity and crews were on the scene to remove them, Rhodes said.
“There’s a lot of damage in the northeast part of the county,” Rhodees said. “A lot of houses damaged.”
Damage was evident at the Corvette museum at Mid-America Motorworks, according to a witness.
Ricky Schopp Jr. was driving near Mid-America Motorworks on N. Third Street when he spotted the tornado Wednesday evening.
“I was driving so I couldn’t get many pictures,” He told the Effingham Daily News via Facebook messenger. “I kept pulling off, but what I witnessed was incredible.”