Other property at the school's football stadium was left in a twisted mess. It was the Defense Department. As the low level windjet gradually strengthens in the late afternoon and evening, elongating shear profiles and increasing shear should support a greater risk for tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. FOR BRIEFLY NOW, CHECK OUT VIDEO. Region 6. Roofs were torn off several homes and a barn. Severe damage was also reported to several mobile homes, a radio tower and over 1,000trees. Tornado tracked across the eastern side of the Montgomery metropolitan area and continued eastward. Posted Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 5:01pm by KAWX News. Today's. The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. [30] At 12:19p.m.CDT (1719UTC), a tornado touched down in extreme southwestern Rutherford County, Tennessee just north of Eagleville. The university is located in Conway, Arkansas, just over 30 miles north of Little Rock. The volunteers were trained by Emergency Management Services to help first responders at disaster sites with the necessary heavy equipment to aide in relief work. Many trees were twisted, snapped or uprooted. Media. Very beautiful. Reports tracked by the National Weather Service include downed trees and multiple structures damaged in Tishimongo County in northeast Mississippi, where a tornado warning was issued late this morning. Four houses and a mobile home lost their roofs and trees were damaged. Several houses were damaged, one of which lost its roof. Re: Mena AR destroyed by tornado saw on the news that mena got 4 1/2 inches of rain yesterday as well, most recorded in the state for yesterday. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Muhlenberg County schools and Ohio County schools were closed Tuesday because of flooding. Strange events unfolded at Mena, a small city in remote western Arkansas, in the 1980s. 57.8K Followers. Then I got up, I came to my front door and I could see the debris just flying around. After the first eight minutes of play, the Ladycats led Viola by a score of 18-14. A metal cross on top of the bell tower (upper right) is twisted and some of the roof and other damage is visible at St. Agnes Church in Mena after a tornado April 9. A tornado touched down one minute later a few miles southwest of Mena and travelled north of Highway 59/71 into the western part of town. The tornado outbreak of April 911, 2009 was a tornado outbreak that affected large portions of the Southern United States on April 911, 2009. Several outbuildings and sheds were destroyed. As storms continue to track east across the south, so does the damage. . [47] The local Walmart was being used as a supply center as it was the only building with power. Seven school buildings were damaged. Some of the businesses in the community are working to create a Downtown Arts District in Mena, anchored by the Mena Art Gallery at 607 Mena Street. $359,000 1065 Polk 67 3 Bed 2 Bath 1564 SqFt. In Arkansas, at least one person died when a tornado "pretty much destroyed" a nursing home in Monette, a county official said. Dennis Cavanaugh, a meteorologist with the weather service, said earlier Wednesday afternoon before the tweet that technicians were installing replacement parts and testing the radar. [21] The damage to the middle school was so severe that it had to be condemned. [52] Sixteen Nashville-area Lowe's stores served as donation sites for the Red Cross to assist people who have been affected by the tornado. A large shed was ripped from its foundation. (AP) Gov. One house was damaged and many trees were knocked down. The University of Central Arkansas canceled Tuesday classes after the severe weather. A tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service northeast of Honobia, moving northeast at 50 miles per hour. No injuries were reported. [39] The combination of hot and very dry air and very strong winds sparked numerous wildfires during the late afternoon hours. Two homes and a mobile home were destroyed with damage to two other homes. 5:04 AM EDT, Tue April 12, 2022, Severe storm threat expands for Central US as West sees heavy April snow. This photo shows a home during a power outage in the Arabi neighborhood on March 24, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kentucky Governor . I first traveled to Mena in 1994, reporting for the Wall Street . Just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service in North Little Rock issued a tornado watch for 23 Arkansas counties until 10 p.m. Mena is a city in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. One mobile home was destroyed injuring its occupant. Several other structures including homes were damaged. $249,900 161 Polk Road 712 2 Bed 1 Bath 1200 SqFt. Two trees fell on the home of Graves' relative, but no one was injured. Tornado hits Mena, damage reported Storm system tears through state by Arkansas Online Press Services | April 9, 2009 at 7:36 p.m. | Updated April 10, 2009 at 3:23 a.m. The Judicial Watch lawsuit seeks the report of a November 1996 CIA investigation into "drug running, money laundering and intelligence gathering" at Mena. Extensive tree damage. If the only tool we had were the back-up radars, it would likely degrade our services, but those are not all we have, Cavanaugh said. Little Rock, Arkansas weather.gov/lzk Joined May 2012. Prepare to take shelter if necessary. [26], The Governor of Tennessee Phil Bredesen,[51] United States Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander,[52] United States Representative Bart Gordon[53] and the mayors of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County each toured the tornado damage in Murfreesboro. Reprints and media inquiries: [emailprotected]. We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good. appreciated. Students were in school for the first day after winter break when the tornado hit but there were no reports of major injuries. The major traffic point was Mena, Arkansas, where the weapons production and training of Contras took place, and where shipment of guns and trained Contras originated. [50] As many as 300seventh and eighth-graders were sent to the middle school in Hatfield, while 165sixth-graders went to a Baptist church to complete the school year. Two people were injured. The National Weather Service Tulsa confirmed EF-2 category tornado damage in Springdale and Johnson. Seal is the locus for many of the elaborate conspiracy theories surrounding Mena, including that arms were shipped south by U.S. authorities to the Contras opposed to the Nicaraguan Sandinista regime and cocaine came back on the return trips. This event is sometimes referred to as the Good Friday tornado outbreak of 2009. Numerous trees were knocked down along its path. [44] In South Carolina, one man was killed in a car accident after crashing into trees that had fallen into the roadway as severe weather created poor visibility. Whats the worst whirlwind youve weathered? Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. A lot of damage inside.. is above the law! These states have the highest frequency of strong tornadoes. Heavy damage to trees and power lines. 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Surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, Mena is a gateway to some of the most visited tourist attractions in Arkansas. It was easy to load drugs on the planes that returned to the U.S. after delivering weapons to the Contras. EF1-EF3 tornadoes ripped through western Arkansas on April 9, flattening homes, uprooting trees, rupturing gas lines, and downing power lines. A church sustained moderate roof damage and many outbuildings, a few vehicles and hundreds of trees were damaged. A textile plant was also damaged. Hundreds of trees were also damaged. Hazards include damaging tornado and quarter . In total in the county, 165 houses were destroyed, 701 more houses sustained major damage, and more than 11,000 trees were downed along the path. [48] Two people from the Red Cross assisted victims of the tornado by providing tarps donated by a Lowe's store as well as flashlights and other supplies. Mena, Arkansas Tornado - YouTube Video shot just west of Mena, Arkansas. March Begins Spring's Tornado Ramp-Up In the U.S. Hail Rains Down Inside Alamodome In San Antonio Storms, Unusually Heavy Snow Turns Los Angeles Skyline Into Winter Wonderland, Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, March Sadness For Much Of The East, South; Colder Air Ahead, FDA Panel Gives Recommendation For New Vaccine, 11 Minutes Of Exercise Lowers Risk Of Early Death, Myrtle Beach Residents Shocked By Mass Of Pollen, Warming Planet Could Make Harder To Breathe, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Franais, State of Vatican City (Holy See) | Italiano. NOW, WHAT CAUSED IT? They shed more light on what happened at Mena and what then-Governor Bill Clinton knew about it. The tornado was rated as a high-end EF 3, with winds near 165 mph (266 km/h), and damages estimated at $25 million. Video showed a piece of lumber piercing the windshield of a car that had been smashed by debris. Damage to several structures including a mobile home and roof damage to buildings. LIVE IN FORT SMITH, BRETT RAINS 4029 NEWS. Dangerous severe weather outbreak brewing as snowstorm looms. Severe storms that included at least two confirmed tornadoes injured several people Wednesday, damaged homes and businesses and downed power lines in Mississippi and Tennessee after they spread damage in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas overnight before moving to the Deep South. [56] The Red Cross helped residents in Murfreesboro by serving nearly 15,000meals and snacks, distributing nearly 4,000cleanup and comfort kits, and provided counseling to more than 500tornado victims and their families. Capt. 1. Earlier images showed flipped and damaged cars in the community in Ashley County. residences. THURSDAY: Round two of strong to severe storms moves in Thursday evening and night. There's no official boundary but the nation's tornado alley usually includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Many trees were also knocked down. The weather service said the tornado was reported by an observer at Little Rock Air Force Base. of Tornados in Mena, AR 1 Copyright TWC Product and Technology LLC 2014, 2023, Severe Outbreak Kills 10, Leaves Wake Of Damage & Widespread Outages, Unbelievable Photos Of Snow-Buried California, 10 Places You Have To See in March (PHOTOS), 9 Things You Shouldn't Do If You Have the Flu, Why Your Vehicle Might Need a Hail Bubble. This Clean-up service is free for residenc. The alert affects an area that includes roughly 107,000 people. Eight students and a driver had to be helped off a school bus surrounded by floodwaters in Bourbon County, Kentucky, according to WLEX. 3:38 p.m.: Tornado watch issued for southern two-thirds of Arkansas. The tornado killed 23 people. Thousands of trees were damaged. [42] In Texas, three people were killed in Montague County, as wildfires burned more than 150,000 acres (610km2) and destroyed two towns in the county. [4] Beginning at 6:20 CDT (2320 UTC), several tornadoes were produced in eastern sections of Oklahoma and Texas. hamlet", "Some Ignore Siren As Tornado Strikes Mena, Ark", "Search of tornado-hit city finds no new casualties", "Community Surprises Itself After Devastation", "2 dead, dozens injured as homes lie in ruins after tornado", "Good Friday Tornado Outbreak- 04/10/09 Damage Surveys", "Relative: Bryants took cover inside home", "Husband and father of tornado fatalities in fair condition", "Top 10: Some tornado images will remain etched in collective mind", "RCHBA - Certified Builder Program - Home Page", "Fires destroy dozens of homes, businesses in", "Wild Weather Woes Continue into Early Next Week", "Situation Report: from Oklahoma Dept. Tips: [emailprotected], Investigative Bulletin is published by Judicial Watch. An enhanced risk of severe weather means that forecasters have high confidence that several storms will contain damaging winds, severe hail, and/or tornado potential, a briefing from the weather service said Wednesday. Large hail reports came in from Mount Ida, Hot Springs, Benton, Randall and Glendale over the evening. You can drive to the mailbox better by car. CNN A storm system lashing states from Oklahoma into the Midwest brought tornadoes and hail to Arkansas Monday. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. And that the CIA contracted for extensive aircraft maintenance work at Mena airfield. Judicial Watch: Fighting for Clean Elections. The KLZK radar is back in service after it went offline Monday night, the weather service in North Little Rock announced in a separate Twitter post just before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Judicial Watch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Love Arkansas? The report also considers whether the international drug smuggler Barry Seal was involved with the CIA. We can install below ground or above ARKANSAS - Tornado and Storm Shelters 573-381-9002 HOME CHOOSE A STATE STATES A-I ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA A large, extremely dangerous, and potentially deadly tornado is on the ground, the National Weather Service said in a tweet at 8:34 p.m. CT. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW!. [5][6] The severe weather then moved into Arkansas, where a tornado killed three people in Mena. (CNN) -- A tornado ripped through Mena, Arkansas, on Thursday, killing at least three people and damaging more than 100 homes, authorities said. Don't forget to subscribe and ring the bell for future updates. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. In another area, three homes were destroyed and thrown off their foundations, with one of the three homes not properly anchored and the other two very well constructed. The EF3 tornado in Jonesboro even caused a plane to flip and train to derail! More thunderstorms started forming as they approached into western Arkansas, and encountered a strong wind field around the incoming system. To learn more about our storm shelters and safe rooms, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Official numbers from Arkansas State Police place the death count from Thursday night's tornado at two with 23 injured, though police sources tell Channel 7 News that three have died. [35] A total of 845homes sustained damage from the tornado, of which 117were destroyed, 298had major damage, 175suffered minor damage and 255were directly affected. Just after 4:50 p.m., the NWS also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Hatfield, Cove and Vandervoort lasting until 5:45 p.m. One home had a tree fall on it and another lost part of its roof. The report states that the CIA participated in a Department of Defense (DoD) training exercise.. 5:47 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Mena, Wickes, and Hatfield until 9:15 p.m. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The next 28 pages of the CIA report are blankredacted on national security grounds. Due to the rain, a flood watch will take effect Wednesday afternoon and continue through Friday morning, according to forecasters. Clinton said that federal authorities didnt tell me anything about it. That turns out to be a clever dodge. Continuous long-track tornado with many houses and businesses damaged along its path, some of which were nearly destroyed. Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Mena, Arkansas. About 70houses were damaged, some of them heavily. In Alabama, Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency Director Christina Thornton said there were minor injuries after a possible tornado hit east Montgomery shortly after 3 a.m. CST Wednesday. It travelled 14.84 miles (23.88km) across Polk County, reaching a maximum width of 1,075 yards (983m). Honobia is in southeastern Oklahoma, about 50 miles west of Mena,. A tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service northeast of Honobia, moving northeast at 50 miles per hour. The big takeaway: Bill Clinton almost certainly knew more about Mena than he suggested in 1994. Funnel cloud/possible tornado near Mena around 4pm Thursday. Honobia is in southeastern Oklahoma, about 50 miles west of Mena, Arkansas. MONETTE, Ark. Which City Is the Worst for Fall Allergies This Year? As the storm system moved through the state, several tornado warnings were issued and the weather services Storm Prediction Center said there were five tornado reports in Arkansas. The Queen Wilhelmina State Park can be found on top of Rich Mountain, the second highest mountain peak in Arkansas. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. A flood watch for nearly all but the southern third of the state will go into place during the afternoon. Emergency crews rescued drivers stuck on flooded roads in Fort Smith. March 19, 2022. Damage is seen to a baseball field in Montgomery, Ala., after a possible tornado touched town on Jan. 4, 2023. What were those routine aviation-related services at Mena conducted on CIA equipment? - Emergency crews, first responders and community members were out late Sunday night in Pope County following a harrowing day of early spring storms that dropped tornadoes. ITS A PROBLEM SPOT FOR THE CITY. Updated: Dec 11, 2021 / 12:27 PM CST. One house sustained roof damage, a chicken house was destroyed and a tin roof was peeled from a barn. That the CIA participated with the Department of Defense in a secret exercise in the Arkansas woods. For the first time, we learn that an unnamed official personally briefed the supervisor of the Arkansas State Police district for Mena, the Mayor of Mena, the Mena Chief of Police or the county sheriff, and the person responsible for operating Mena Intermountain Airport about the joint-training exercise with the CIA. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. The game continued to stay tight in the second quarter, as the Lady Longhorns cut Mena's lead down to two, 30-28, going into halftime. [6], On April10 (Good Friday), the storm system moved east into the Tennessee Valley and eventually into the Carolinas during the night. Tornadoes, thunderstorms damage parts of the River Valley, WELL, BRANDON, GOOD THING IS AS OF RIGHT NOW IN OUR AREA, WEVE NOT HAD ANY REPORTS OF INJURIES. Mena drew Viola for their first round matchup in the tournament on Tuesday. Long track tornado with numerous houses and a church heavily damaged. Three people were killed, thirty people were injured, and 600homes were either damaged or destroyed in Mena. No fatalities had been reported because of the storm, the mayor of Montgomery, Steven L. Reed, said on Twitter. Meteorologists and officials are trying to determine is the tornado outbreak was one tornado that moved from northeast Arkansas into Kentucky, or if it was a series of tornadoes. [31] Nineteen minutes later, it prompted a tornado emergency for Murfreesboro after weather spotters reported the tornado on the ground 5 miles (8.0km) west of the city. foundations, and corporations and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Judicial Watch, Inc. is a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, which promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. [25] The roof at the Mena Middle School was significantly damaged, with part of the gymnasium roof ripped off and a portable classroom was destroyed. THIS IS WHAT ALL THAT WIND AND RAIN LED TO FLOODED STREETS ON NORTH 10TH STREET NEAR DOWNTOWN FORT SMITH THAT PART OF THE ROAD HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. A tornado emergency was declared by the National Weather Service office in Little Rock, Arkansas, for a confirmed large and destructive tornado. Several dozen homes were damaged in the possible tornado that struck overnight in east Montgomery, Alabama, according to Chip Hill, chief of staff for Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM. On April 9, 2009 we were in Mena (Arkansas) to do some things. [24], At 11:00a.m. CDT (1600UTC) on April10, a thunderstorm near the Tennessee River began prompting severe thunderstorm warnings, as it moved nearly 40mph (64km/h) to the northeast and eventually made it into the Nashville metropolitan area by 11:45a.m. CDT (1645UTC). Damage was also reported along Springflower Road near Wagener, about 7 miles northwest of Salley. All Red Cross supplies were sent to the store and arrived on April10. Harrison County firefighters were able to rescue the woman trapped in the high water from the original call. (CNN)-- A tornado ripped through Mena, Arkansas, on Thursday, killing at least three people and damaging more than 100 homes, authorities said. [58] In South Carolina, Governor Mark Sanford made a visit to Aiken County to assess tornado damage. A separate band of strong jet stream winds went east across Mississippi and Alabama. Once storms develop, initial discrete cells will be capable of large hail. 12 homes and two mobile homes suffered roof damage while several outbuildings were destroyed. The Clay County Sheriffs Office told KAIT several streets were flooded and shelters had been opened. [31] The tornado was rated EF4by the National Weather Service in Nashville, Tennessee. Extensive and severe tree damage along the intermittent path. Many trees were snapped and a house sustained minor roof damage. Updated [37], During the passage of the dry line and cold front, very strong winds in central Oklahoma and northern Texas occurred behind the severe weather. [11] Portions of the moderate risk area in northeastern Alabama, northwestern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee were upgraded to a high risk at 1:44 pm CDT (1844 UTC). At least 5people were killed by tornadoes including three in Mena, Arkansas and two in Murfreesboro, Tennessee just south of Nashville. Mena is an enduring issue, says Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. A possible tornado left damage in east Montgomery, Alabama, early Wednesday. Tornadoes in the state primarily follow along interstate 30 and U.S. Highway 67/167. HERE IN SEBASTIAN COUNTY AROUND, THE MANSFIELD AREA, EMERGENCY MANAGERS TELL US THEY HAVE SEEN SOME HOMES, SOME MODERATE DAMAGE DUE TO TREES. The Garland County Sheriffs Office said seven school buildings, three businesses, and 14 homes were damaged in the storm that may have included a tornado, according to KARK. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted. On April 13, 1911, Mena was struck by a tornado. Zillow has 170 homes for sale in Mena AR. ROADS COULD SEE SEVERAL CARS FLOODED OUT HERE, AN OLD GREEN ONE, WHICH IS ALSO HIGHWAY 45, RIGHT NEAR ZERO. In a brief public statement, the CIA said it had no connection to illegal activities in the region, but it did participate in a classified joint training operation with another federal agency and conducted at Mena Airfield routine aviation-related services on equipment owned by the CIA.. individuals, Big Tech Protected Joe Biden o BEST OF: Big Tech Censorship EXPOSED! Asa Hutchinson says two people were killed in northeastern Arkansas when tornadoes struck several states in the region. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms has been introduced across much of central and southern portions of the state, the weather service said in a tweet on Wednesday morning. Brief tornado with up to 20trees were snapped at mile marker359 on, Long track tornado with many houses heavily damaged in the area along. At least 13 people were killed in other storm-hit states, including at the Amazon warehouse in Illinois, bringing the total toll to 83. A Warner Bros. Little Rock is looking at a timeframe of roughly 6pm through midnight. The counties are Arkansas, Bradley, Clark, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Garland, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline and White. Honobia is in southeastern Oklahoma, about 50 miles west of Mena, Arkansas.Another large tornado hit near Heavener. Details: weather.gov/twitter. Many vehicles have been abandoned in roads. Rison received some of the strongest wind this evening, with damage reported there a little after 8pm Wednesday night. The National Weather Service has confirmed it was a tornado that caused damage Monday afternoon at Jessieville High School in Garland County. Severe storms damaged parts of the River Valley Friday night. The National Weather Service says one person has been injured in a storm near Sandersville, Georgia, about 58 miles southwest of Augusta.