Couple trapped in tornado ravaged home

Miller County Sheriff ’s Office and up to eight responding area volunteer fire departments responded to help neighbors free a couple trapped in debris when a tornado collapsed their home after touching down Thursday evening.

“Firefighters made sure the pair were out safely around 7 p.m. before beginning the process of clearing debris on roadways,” said Genoa Fire Chief Michael Godfrey, who also serves as director of Miller County Office of Emergency Management. “The touchdown was at the end of Miller County 152. That is where all the serious damage occurred. The members in the community are doing the cleanup and I put them in touch with Red Cross.”

Godfrey said there were no injuries, but the tornado only took about seven minutes to form near the southern end of the Miller County line before traveling north along Arkansas Highway 237 at about 55 miles per hour.

A tree uprooted that blocked Highway 237–less than three miles from the Cass County line and Godfrey said there was nothing quite like watching a storm cell pop up and develop as rapidly as the one Thursday night Starting about 3:15 p.m. March 2, a Tornado Watch was put into effect by the U.S. National Weather Service out of Shreveport, Louisiana for parts of Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

As Director of Miller County OEM Godfrey wasted no time in sharing the information with area residents and rallying eight area departments from Miller County together in anticipation of the impending storms.

“Our county volunteer fire departments responded rapidly and were awesome at handling the calls that came out of that storm,” Godfrey said. “Thank you all for your speed and efficiency in protecting life and property in our county.”

Straight-line winds at speeds of about 50-60 miles per hour were expected to continue, with 80 mph gusts of wind and rain until about 10:00 p.m., he said Thursday evening.

Six tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service by 8:15 p.m.--including one just south of Atlanta, Texas which touched down as it moved in succession within the line of the storms.

Godfrey said he was proud of the volunteer fire department members who got out and worked in the inclement weather.

“These brave men and women willingly put themselves in the mix of all this weather to ensure our citizens are being taken care of as needed. If you see one of these volunteers out and about, let them know how much you appreciate them. They are awesome,” Godfrey said.

Godfrey recommended area residents sign up for the CodeRed Weather Alert app, available in the app store for both Apple and Android phones, to stay abreast of wild weather changes.

Arkansas Highway 237—also known as Blackman Ferry Road— just a three-minute drive from Bloomburg, Texas, at the edge of Cass County. It is an additional 10 minutes from Cass County to Miller County Road 152 where the twister toppled the couples home just off Blackman Ferry.

The son and daughter of the couple who were trapped in their collapsed home spoke out on their behalf on Facebook last weekend. Journal-Sun staff have chosen to hold the names of the storm victims and their families, unless and until they choose to reach out personally.

Their daughter sounded off asking for prayers for her mother and father.

“They have lost a lot; Almost everything due to a tornado,” she said, adding that their house and vehicle were lost in the storm. “Thank God he had his hands over my parents and they are not hurt and got out safely with family and neighbors’ help…please pray” The couple’s son also made a statement in order to rally support for his parents, who he said are too humble to ask for help.

“Most of you know my parents lost their home due to a tornado that came through and did major damage to their house,” he said.

“The house was a loss, but most of the content inside was saved. The tornado trapped them in the bathroom. They were able to get out with help from friends that live close.”

Their son and daughter said an account has been set up at City National Bank in Queen City, Texas, where donations can be made to the ‘Andrews Benefit Account’ “If anybody wants to help all proceeds will go towards a new house for them,” he said. “My parents would never ask for anything