Clean-up Begins, Three Dead After EF-3 Tornado

UPDATED INFORMATION (4:00 pm Monday):

David Searby of Perry County Emergency Management said Monday that anyone affected by the tornado in Brookport can register at the Brookport City Council chambers Tuesday between 8am and 4:00 pm. This will help them coordinate with the Methodist Church of Metropolis, who will help meet those needs. Lunch will also be available at The Post Restaurant, which is right next door.

People affected on Unionville Road can register to get help Tuesday, as well. Men from the Methodist Church will be in the area to provide mobile registration, surveying residents for potential clean-up help.

Those who can't make it to register for help should call Brookport City Hall at 618-564-2351.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help can come to Unity School between 8:30 am - 4:00 pm on Wednesday to register. Officials will be maintaining the city's security, putting teams together, and sending them out to work.

Cleaning supplies can be donated at First Baptist Church of Metropolis, which is coordinating with Emergency Management to get them distributed.

Monetary donations can be made at Banterra Bank in Metropolis. Make them payable to Shawnee Development Council, specifying "Brookport Tornado" in the memo line or with a note.

Pet supplies for furry survivors can be made at Project Hope in Metropolis, or at the Landing Strip in Brookport, both of which are housing pets separated from owners. Please call the Landing Strip at 618-638-6697 to make sure you bring supplies they really need.

Emergency Management teams are currently assessing the severe damage in the city, and hope to have preliminary work done by Tuesday, so they can begin their debris management plan.

Illinois State Trooper Michael Usher said residents need to be aware of their surroundings with limbs and debris everywhere, including in the trees. He said anyone driving should know that there are still nails in the road, and heavy equipment is obviously still in use. Usher reminded everyone that non-residents of Brookport should stay out, and sight-seeing is not permitted. The Brookport Bridge will remain closed at the discretion of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and the curfew is still in effect from 6:00 pm until 6:00 am.

Tina Hale of Ameren said that by 3:00 pm, power has been restored to most areas of the city, except near the dam, where some extra equipment was needed. They hoped to have that area energized by the end of the day. Any customers who still don't have power to their homes probably need repairs to the weather head on their home before connection can be made.


MONDAY MORNING'S ORIGINAL STORY:

Illinois State Police confirmed Monday morning that three people have died as a result of the tornado that struck Brookport, Illinois Sunday afternoon.

Those who died in the storm are 58-year-old Kathy George, 56-year-old Robert Harmon, and 63-year-old Scholitta Burrus, all of Brookport.

Massac County Sheriff Ted Holder said everyone is accounted for, and search and rescue has trasitioned into clean-up.

Brookport Mayor John Klaffer expressed gratitude Monday for the help the city has received, and asked residents to be patient.

Rick Shanklin of the National Weather Service said preliminary reports indicate that EF-2 winds caused most of the damage, but some indicated winds in the low EF-3 category, approaching 140 miles per hour. The damage path has been measured at 250 yards wide at some points.

Trooper Joey Watson of the Illinois State Police reported that Brookport's curfew will continue tonight from 6pm until 6am Tuesday morning.  He confirmed that the search and rescue phase is complete, but that volunteers still are not allowed to enter the town until damage assessment has been completed.  A team from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is scheduled to arrive today to do the assessment.

Watson said roadblocks will continue around Brookport, including on Highway 45 at Strawberry Road, and on various county roads surrounding the damaged area.  Paducah police will continue to maintain a roadblock on the Kentucky side of the Brookport bridge.

Ameren reported that 55 linemen began work on Sunday night restoring electricity to Brookport, and are in the process of replacing about 40 poles.  As of the time of the report, about half of the town had been re-energized, and Ameren hoped to have the rest of the grid online by afternoon.  They also were working to restore power to the Brookport lock and dam later this afternoon as soon as the proper equipment arrived.

Liberty Utilities reported that all gas leaks in the town had been repaired, and that contrary to intitial reports, gas service to Brookport had never been interrupted.