43 YEARS AGO: 1982: Tornado leaves 11 miles of destruction
Gov. Christopher S. Bond, right, surveyed the Tecumseh-Caulfield tornado damage Tuesday morning. With him are Dallas Herd, Ozark County Civil Defense director, and Richard Trump, eastern district judge (now called commissioner). Bond expressed sympathy to persons whose property was destroyed or damaged. He said he was surprised, but thankful, that there was not more loss of life or injuries than there had been, Herd said.
The appalling power of a tornado bent these mobile home l-beam supports around a tree which remained firmly rooted in the ground. (Note child sitting on debris on right hand side).
In a pond on the Irene Corps property lies the school bus she operates for the Gainesville school system. The bus was whirled about, over and over, before it was dropped into the pond.
The home of the Clendon Endicotts was devastated by the tornado which totaled a 60-passenger school bus he drives for the Gainesville School system. Nearby across the highway, the home of his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Endicott, was damaged, as was another school bus operated by Clifford Endicott.
April 8, 1982, Ozark County Times: Cleaning up is still going on along the some 11-mile path of destruction left by the tornado that struck along Highway 160 in the Tecumseh-Caulfield communities of Ozark county Friday at 6:10 and 6:35 p.m.
One person, Herbert Junior Neas, 57, Caulfield, was killed when his car was blown off the road and a reported 11 persons were injured in the Ozark county area. Just over the stateline, near Bakersfield, two persons, Thomas and Maye Durham, were killed when their home was demolished.
The car Doris Coatney was driving was blown off the road and was then hit by a tree. Mrs. Coatney was not injured. In West Plains, where the tornado also struck, one person, Jennifer Smith, eight years old, was killed when the car she was riding in blew off the road. Numerous persons were injured and extensive damage was done to business buildings and dwellings.
Trees blown across Highway 160, east of the Tecumseh bridge, kept the Ozark County Ambulance Service from getting through to the injured in the Caulfield - Tecumseh area. Some were taken by West Plains Ambulance Service to the hospital there and one person was transported by Ava Area Ambulance and others were taken by private cars, to Baxter General Hospital at Mountain Home, Ark. The injured are reported to have been released by Monday except Catherine Fast. Her husband, J. O. “Bud” Fast, was released Saturday. They were injured when their trailer home was completely destroyed.
Members of the Ozark county sheriff’s office, Highway Patrol and Conservation Department personnel helped clear the roads and check out all homes in the path of the destruction. They were sided by numerous volunteers.
Their work was hampered by high winds and downed power lines.
Dallas Herd, Ozark County Civil Defense director, notified William R. Beaty, director State Disaster Planning and Operations, of the damage on Saturday morning. He also notified state Senator Emory Melton and State Rep. Garnett Kelly.
Beaty sent an inspection team down from Jefferson City, made up of Chester Schulz and Bob Griner, to tour the area with Herd and Eastern Judge Richard Trump to assess the extent of the destruction.
Areas of destruction
After the tour, which was completed Sunday, the team advised Beaty that the county should be recommended to receive state and federal aid.
An estimate of the total amount of damages has not been completed, Herd said, but names of persons whose property was destroyed or damaged is being compiled. The list, which is not complete, and does not at this time describe the extent of property damage, presently includes 45 names, Herd said....
Some of the more severely damaged or demolished trailers or homes were those belonging to Irene Corp, the Clendon Endicotts, the J. O. Fasts, Bertha King, the Jim Crawfords and the Leon Roschs. Several other properties were demolished, but the home or trailer has not been associated with names from the list of persons whose property was hit by the tornado.
Extensive damage as done to farm buildings and several animals were reported killed in the tornado area.
Governor Bond
On Monday, Gov. Christopher S. Bond declared a state of emergency in Howell and Ozark counties to pave way for low-interest loan assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration.
In addition, Bond requested that President Reagan issue a federal declaration of emergency to help with the costs of debris clearance and utility repair.
Bond visited the West Plains - Tecumseh - Caulfield areas Tuesday. He was met in the county by Herd, Trump and others. Herd said the governor expressed concern for the people who had sustained injuries and damage or loss of homes. Surveying the massive destruction in the area, the governor said he was thankful that more lives were not lost, Herd said.
Literally thousands of trees were uprooted by the tornado and high winds. Trump said persons interested in timber along rights of way on county roads should check with the county court.
Cleanup
Among organized volunteers helping with the cleanup are a group of Mennonites from the Seymour area, members of CSA from new Pontiac and Dougherty Post and Pole workers at Tecumseh.
Marvin Stokes, with Continental Telephone, said 14 poles were downed by the winds. Since the cable was not broken and most of the lines were underground, service was restored by 8 p.m., Friday, except for one line, Stokes said.
All rescue and road clearing Friday night was hampered by high winds and rain. Electric power was out and in some areas was not restored until Monday. The major portion of storm area is served by Howell-Oregon and Sho-Me Power companies.
Red Cross
Members of the Red Cross in Springfield were in the county early Saturday offering help in securing shelter, food and clothing for tornado victims.
A Red Cross headquarters has been opened in the basement of the Robert Burns Masonic Hall...