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FinalCall.com News
National News
Storm system brings tornado to Arkansas
By Kelly P. Kissel
Associated Press
Updated Apr 17, 2008 - 1:52:00 PM
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Residents assessed the damage April 4 from a tornado that hit central Arkansas, damaging businesses, felling trees and knocking out power to thousands of customers.
The storm clean-up has become a familiar scene. Over the past two months, parts of Arkansas have endured a strong tornado during a storm outbreak that killed 13, a foot of snow, upward of a foot of rain and near-record flooding.
“We’ve been assaulted by mother nature over the last few months,” Gov. Mike Beebe said.
The storm was part of a weather system that stretched from Texas to New England, where snow fell in some areas.
In Arkansas, one person was reported dead in a traffic accident, and there was a report of a missing woman in Pulaski County. In Kentucky, authorities said a 2-year-old girl died after her mother drove into a flooded roadway.
A strong thunderstorm struck the area around Denton County, Texas, early April 4, producing wind as high as 50 mph and damaging some homes. Storms also downed trees, toppled power poles and peeled shingles off buildings in northern Alabama.
In Little Rock and its suburbs, a large number of homes and businesses were damaged.
Near Benton, a dozen homes were destroyed at the Hurricane Creek Mobile Home Park, including one that burned after a felled tree caused a gas leak.
“It was just a ball of fire,” said state Sen. Shane Broadway.
Benton Police Capt. Roger Gaither said 70 trailers suffered some sort of damage.
“It’s amazing. It’s just totally amazing that no one was really hurt,” Mr. Gaither said. Emergency workers had trouble responding because downed power lines and trees blocked the main road in.
For Gregory Greene, who was outside a restaurant when the storm hit, it was the first tornado he had seen in his 39 years, and “I thought I was going to die.”
He said he was picking up his girlfriend when the storm “pushed her up against the building and knocked me down and pushed me under that truck.” His right elbow was rubbed raw.
Entergy Arkansas spokesman James Thompson said there were 38,500 customers without power. First Electric Cooperatives said it had 8,500 customers out in central Arkansas.
In Cammack Village, a community of 1,000 surrounded by northwest Little Rock, police and firefighters went door-to-door to check on residents. Paramedics tended to an elderly woman, who didn’t appear seriously hurt. An oak tree blocked in neighbors on a cul-de-sac and water from torrential rains flowed down streets a half-foot deep.
Susann Walters, 55, said she hid in a closet with her two dogs and a cat as the storm approached. “It was probably 30-45 seconds,” Ms. Walter said. “It was quick.”
