Latest news with #Joe'sWeatherBlog
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Missouri counties denied state aid for tornado damage
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mo. — Tornado victims in southwestern Missouri will not get extra help from the state after a cluster of tornadoes hit the area last week. Residents in St. Clair, Henry and Benton counties have learned that they will not be receiving any state assistance in wake of the May 19 tornadoes. It's another setback for communities trying to clean up the mess left behind. The Henry County, Missouri, Office of Emergency Management said the counties will not be able to apply for state funding—for cleanup, repairs or financial help. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox According to emergency management, one of the reasons state assistance was denied is because many of the homes in the counties were 'second homes' – which don't quality to be included in assessments. 'We have been on the phone all morning with area agencies to find more resources, financial aid and labor to help our citizens in our communities recover,' Henry County Emergency Management said on Thursday. 'We are very encouraged with what we have found thus far and will be sharing more information as the day goes on. We are not giving up making sure the citizens of our county to get all the help we can possibly find.' The Iconium Fire Protection District in St. Clair County posted on social media that they are looking for volunteers on Friday and Saturday to help people in the area whose neighborhoods were devastated by last week's tornadoes. 'We need dump trucks, dump trailers and wood chipper operators to grind up and haul off wood chips,' the fire department said. According to the fire department, dozens of branches and trees are piled up in yards in the Fox Run and Richochet Ridge subdivisions off Highway ZZ between Truman Lake and the St. Clair County-Henry County line. 'The Iconium Fire Department will pay to rent a wood chipper,' the fire department said. 'But we need people who can spend a day feeding the chipper and others who can bring trailers and trucks to accept the chips and haul them away, probably to the yard next to our Station 3, about a mile from those subdivisions.' View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 The fire department is asking anyone who has the time or equipment to help to call Fire Chief David Price at 417-309-0078. It estimates the cost will be around $2,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Storm chaser shares memories of 2019 Linwood tornado
LINWOOD, Kan. – On May 28, 2019 a mile wide EF-4 tornado in Douglas and Leavenworth County, Kansas injured 18 people and the super cell produced another tornado causing damage all the way in Kearney Missouri. Communities had to rebuild, but luckily no lives were lost. The storm turned out to be one of the most significant in history for the scientific community. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox In the six years since the devastating Linwood tornado we've heard from the survivors, who rode out the EF-4 in their homes. 'Had Jesus on my side, I lived through it,' Linwood resident Dennie Roberts, whose wife was killed in Kansas City's 2003 tornado, said. FOX4 also spoke with thrill seekers who were sent flying in storm chasing tour vans. 'Immediately it just flipped us and we just bounced and rolled and banged like metal for what seemed like forever,' Jeff Lieberman said on the tornado's first anniversary. That day as FOX4 meteorologists were watching the radar and FOX4 crews were first on the scene to the damage alerting first responders to the immediate need extreme meteorologist and storm chaser Reed Timmer and his team were also watching the super cell as it formed south of Lawrence, Kansas. Timmer shared memories this week on .' Joe's Blog: So, why has it been so gray lately (WED-5/28) 'It was wrapped in rain and we chased the storm for a little while it produced a brief tornado in the rain and we knew it was gearing up to produce a large one,' Timmer recalled. As the tornado formed Timmer was trying to pull off something he hadn't been able to do before on a storm of its magnitude. The problem was the tornado was rain wrapped. 'You almost have to get into the path of the tornado to be able to see it back in the inflow notch and that's a very dangerous place to be,' Timmer they were able to launch a sensor called 'Dorothy' into the mile-wide twister recording wind speeds of 190 miles per hour, and thermodynamics like pressure fall, temperature and relative humidity. But as the sensor and parachute climbed in the mesocyclone to heights of more than 27,000 feet there was just one problem after the tornado passed and clean up began, finding it. Thankfully, 'Dorothy' was located 30 miles away in Leavenworth, Kansas while pots from Free State growers were found 50 miles away in Smithville, Missouri. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android With that single sensor recovered its the first time they were ever able to get data recovered at 10 times per second. Timmer says hopefully data collected will help go along way in better understanding tornadoes and maybe one day even preventing them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Missouri conservation staff tracking peregrine falcons in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation has been working this month to track a certain bird of prey that has been reintroduced to urban areas in past decades. Peregrine falcons could become a more common sight in the Kansas City area and elsewhere statewide as the conservation department's peregrine falcon nesting program takes flight. Overland Park residents can apply for property tax rebate starting this weekend Kansas City was included in the nesting program in 2019, and this month, the department has been providing updates as it works to grow the population of peregrine falcons in the state, a species labeled a 'conservation concern.' Earlier this month, conservation department staff and a representative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture met up on the rooftop of the Shook, Hardy and Bacon law firm building in Kansas City to place leg bands on three peregrine falcon chicks living in a nesting box. The department shared on Facebook recently that they offer the nesting boxes as a safer alternative for falcons that have historically built their nests on cliffs and ledges. Leg bands have been placed on several young falcons this month, the department said, in an effort to keep track of where the birds go once they leave the nest. The leg bands are large enough to fit the birds as they grow into adults and included identification numbers, the department said. This week, the department included an update that staff members added leg bands to three more chicks, this time at Evergy's Hawthorn station in Kansas City. 'MDC staff recently banded peregrine falcon chicks at EVERGY's Hawthorn Generating Station in Kansas City,' the department posted on Facebook Wednesday. 'There were 2 males and 1 female, all in excellent health. EVERGY staff hold their newest family members with great pride.' FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox Here are some facts about peregrine falcons, provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Cornell Lab: One of the world's fastest birds, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 200 mph as they dive toward their prey from a high-up location. The species was nearly eradicated because of side-effects of DDT and other pesticides in the middle of the 20th century. They hunt starlings, pigeons and other smaller birds seen in the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Truman Lake cleaning up after recent storms, ahead of Memorial Day weekend
WARSAW, Mo. — Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer with many people heading to a lake. Crews at Truman Lake are still cleaning up damage and making repairs following Monday's storms. Flags placed at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day An EF-1 tornado tore through Henry and Benton counties with winds clocked at 110 miles per hour. The park manager at Truman Lake tells FOX4 the visitor center and three campgrounds saw significant damage. Their crews have been moving trees and picking up limbs, hoping to get camp sites open for the weekend. 'This is not a typical three day weekend because we'll be busy,' Park Manager Bradley Wright said. National parks preparing for busy Memorial Day weekend: What to expect Warren Benigar lives near Warsaw. They were supposed to have family visit his home near Truman Lake, but the visit got canceled. Truman Lake Opry opened its doors to help those impacted. 'Come and help yourself, we want people to feel at home here and come right in,' Denise Snider, owner of Truman Lake Opry, said. The space is typically a restaurant, bar and concert venue, now functioning as a community center. Snider turned the back stage into a bedroom for people who've been impacted. There's bathrooms, fresh water, food, a kitchen, plus staff with the nonprofit, Compass Health, are on hand. 'There's so many people around here that needed a place to take a shower, to get water, get ice and I was thinking, well we have all of that and we're right here centrally located, so I was like, let's help,' Snider said. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox Wright said Long Shoal, Thibaut Point and Berry Bend campgrounds saw the most significant damage along with the visitor center. Storms blew out two windows and trees toppled over, covering streets. Wright said 5 to 10 campers were staying at Long Shoal, but nobody was hurt. However, some of their property was damaged. 'Pretty much right after the storm, we had closed the campground and asked folks inside to leave just so we could get the roads back open and get the facilities cleaned up,' he said. There are about 100 campsites at Long Shoal. He said half their staff and volunteers are working with heavy machinery to clear debris. The power is back on at Long Shoal and Thibaut Point. 'Slowly getting things back on and hoping for the best and working as much as we can getting things ready for the public for the weekend,' Wright said. Wright said this is typically their busiest holiday weekend of the year with each camp site reserved. Things to do in Kansas City Memorial Day weekend 2025 released the following updates late Thursday afternoon. Long Shoal: Campground, swim beach, and day-use shelter have been cleaned up, power restored, and will have the gates open at 8:00 a.m. Friday. Boat Ramp is currently open. Thibaut Point: B loop and boat ramp are currently open. A loop will be open at 6 p.m. Friday. The swim beach will remain closed. Berry Bend: B Loop of the campground, boat ramp, equestrian trails, and both day use shelters are currently open. C loop currently has a power issue and will be closed for the holiday weekend. Visitor Center: Will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri-Mon for the holiday weekend. Please excuse our mess as we continue to clean up and make repairs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Impacts of Lowry City tornado still felt days later
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mo. — A tornado, suspected of being of an EF-1 caliber, touched down in St. Clair County, Missouri, Monday. Some businesses in Lowry City still don't have power or utilities as they deal with its aftermath. 'I know everything will be good.. everything will be fine. It's weird that it happens to you, when it happens,' Joann Silkwood, a business owner in Lowry City shared Wednesday. 5 tornadoes hit Henry, Benton, St. Clair counties in Missouri: NWS preliminary report Silkwood showed FOX4 damage to her business at The Red Rooster Antiques. Her 'front porch' is gone, along with signage. A large tree also lays on the side of the shop. Power there, as of Wednesday, is also out. The Marketplace, houses several other small businesses, located off of Highway 13 in Lowry City. 'This looks bad, but there are people that have it way worse,' Silkwood shared referring to the tree puncturing her business. 'We will probably have to put a new roof on and everyone (her antique vendors) will have to move out for a little while.' Her outlook on what's ahead though is still bright. 'I'm blessed. I love everything I do. I love all the people I do it with. I'm doing everything I've ever dreamed of right now so we will be OK,' she added. Why you shouldn't park under an overpass a during tornado Businesses next to hers though, do have electricity back on. 'The storm, honestly it just looked like a big tsunami outside,' Ashley Silkwood, who owner of Silkwood Blooms Greenhouse and Garden Shop said. 'You couldn't see anything.' Ashley Silkwood said she and her family hunkered down at home during the storm, but after it passed, went to check on the shop. 'Once we turned the corner and saw our greenhouse roof and knew it was still standing, overall, but came into the parking lot and saw our whole front wall was blown in. Our doors were off the hinges, everything outside was blow into the fence and the field. Plants and pots and racks and tables, everywhere,' she recalled. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox The National Weather Service says this was a challenging survey to conduct because of widespread tree damage. The path of a reported tornado, in St. Clair County, was 4.6 miles. . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
