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Branson radio broadcaster describes being live on-air when deadly boating accident happened (AUDIO)

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Missouri Governor Mike Parson is pledging the support of all necessary state resources to assist with the investigation into Thursday night’s deadly boating tragedy at Table Rock Lake near Branson. 17 people were killed when a “Ride the Ducks” amphibious vehicle capsized and sank in about 60 mile-per-hour winds.

Scott McCaulley is the longtime operations manager and sports director at Missourinet Branson affiliate KRZK Radio (FM 106.3). He spoke to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth today about last night’s storm and what’s been happening. McCaulley was live on-air hosting a candidate forum just three miles from the scene, when the storm struck:

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13 confirmed dead after boat sinks in southwest Missouri

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Thirteen people are confirmed dead, after a boat capsized during a Thursday evening storm on southwest Missouri’s Table Rock Lake. Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10 quotes Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader as saying that children are among the dead.

Photo courtesy of KOLR in Springfield and Craig Smith

About four people are still missing. Seven people have been injured – some critically.

The station reports 31 people were on the “Rides with Ducks” boat at the time it capsized. The boat sank.

Captain Jim Pulley, the owner of Sea Tow Table Rock Lake, tells the Springfield News-Leader the storm hit the lake with 80 mile-per-hour winds that kicked waves up five feet high.

Divers are in the water this morning searching for those unaccounted for.

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Parson places 47 Missouri counties on drought alert

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Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order putting 47 Missouri counties on drought alert. The move calls upon the state Department of Natural Resources to activate the Drought Assessment Committee and the associated drought impact teams. The order directs all Missouri agencies to examine how the state can assist affected communities and identify communities that could be affected.

Gov. Mike Parson-R

“Missouri farmers are resilient, but with no control over Mother Nature, this year’s drought has been difficult to battle,” Parson says in a press release. “By responding early to this drought, we can greatly reduce the impact upon our agricultural community as well as on all Missouri citizens. Our farmers are the backbone of our state, and it is imperative that we assist to get through this difficult time.”

According to the press release, there are several known drought impacts at this time, including those to livestock forage and water. There are also at least three public water supplies impacted in northern Missouri.

Of the 47 counties on the order, 32 are in northern Missouri. All of the counties include: Adair, Andrew, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Knox, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Moniteau, Monroe, Newton, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, and Worth.

In June, to aid the agricultural community, the Department of Natural Resources’ Soil and Water Districts Commission granted a statewide variance that allows grazing on practices that would normally be livestock-excluded.

For more information on the Missouri Drought Plan, the Drought Assessment Committee, Executive Order 18-05, and the Drought Monitor map, click here.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Extension climatologist says Missouri is the ‘bullseye’ of the drought

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University of Missouri Extension climatologist Pat Guinan says 2012’s drought was far more devastating and widespread – from Utah to Ohio – but this year’s drought conditions are different. He calls Missouri the “bullseye” of the drought.

Extension climatologist says Missouri is the “bullseye” of the drought

“Here we are in the middle of July and conditions continue to deteriorate,” he says. “It’s fairly localized but it’s very intense. Iowa, they’ve been getting the rain. Illinois’ been getting the rain. You know, maybe eastern Kansas, most of Missouri, northern Arkansas – this is where the most intense dryness has been.”

Guinan says temperatures are expected to moderate in Missouri next week and there might be some rain.

Missourians can report drought conditions directly to the National Drought Monitor to enhance reporting on the ground. Information can be uploaded to the newly-created Missouri Extension Drought Impact Reporter website which includes photos.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” Guinan says. “When you show an empty livestock pond, when you show burned up lawns or pastures, or you show row crops like corn or soybeans that might be incurring drought stress, what better way than to show a picture of it?”

Information provided by users is shared with the National Drought Impact Reporter – the nation’s first comprehensive database of drought impacts.

By Julie Harker of Brownfield Ag News

Heavy storms bring isolated flooding and damage across Missouri

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Heavy storms caused isolated flooding across Missouri Tuesday.

Some trees were uprooted near Springfield while a roof caved in on a building in southeast Missouri’s Dexter and a man in Jefferson City suffered injuries after possibly being struck by lightning.

Scott Watson, Senior Service Hydrologist with the National Weather Service, says it’s important to prepare for flooding during heavy storms.

“It’s always a possibility,” said Watson.  “You need to know where you live with respect to creeks and streams and rivers.  Just have a plan if flooding looks like it’s likely in your area, to be able to protect your property and get yourself to higher ground.”

An EF-0 tornado hit Lake Lotawan east of Kansas City Tuesday, causing downed trees, power lines and power outages in the area.

From Wednesday through the weekend, extreme heat indexes are projected to hit mid and eastern Missouri.  The National Weather Service in St. Louis is predicting a prolonged heat wave Wednesday through Sunday.

The forecast calls for peak heat index values of 105-to-112 in central and eastern Missouri with an Excessive Heat Watch expected in the St. Louis area.

 

Lt. Governor Parson praises mid-Missouri emergency communications center

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The $21 million Boone County Emergency Communications Center in fast-growing Columbia is being praised by Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson.

Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Parson tours the Boone County Emergency Communications Center on May 22, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

The Bolivar Republican toured the center last week, saying the facility is important for the safety of officers.

“I think for the future to have these type of centers in our communities anymore, state-of-the-art, to be able to provide this to the general public out there, but also to provide it for our emergency personnel for their safety is huge that we do this,” Parson says.

Boone County voters approved a 3/8 percent sales tax in 2013 to fund the project, and the 28,000 square feet facility was dedicated in September 2016.

Officials tell Parson that before it was built, they had to buy parts on eBay.

Parson tells Missourinet you can’t “cut the edges” when it comes to emergency responses.

“Because sooner or later there’s going to be a tragedy, there’s going to be an incident that calls for the emergency personnel,” says Parson. “And you want them trained, you want the facilities wherever they can meet the demands of the calls from the public, and it looks like to me there’s some really good foreplanning in this facility.”

Parson notes the Boone County Emergency Communications Center receives about 80,000 911 calls annually.

The facility is designed to withstand 250-mile-per-hour winds, and every power and plumbing system in the building has a backup to the primary system.

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce organized Parson’s visit to the center. Democratic Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill joined the Republican for the tour.

Center officials also tell Parson that Columbia’s daytime population is now about 225,000.

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Parson says he’s focusing on being Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor

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COLUMBIA, Mo.- Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor says he’s focused on the job he was elected to in November 2016.

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson arrives at the Boone County emergency communications center in Columbia on May 22, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

Republican Mike Parson traveled to Columbia Tuesday. He toured the $21 million state-of-the-art Boone County emergency communications center.

After his tour, Parson spoke to reporters, including Missourinet. He says “time” will take care of the situation involving Governor Eric Greitens (R).

“One way or the other, time’s going to take care of it and we’ll just have to see how that comes out,” Parson says.

Parson discussed the historic special session, which began Friday evening in Jefferson City.

“There’s a lot of good people (state lawmakers) trying to do a tough job right now, but I’m confident that they’ll complete the job, whatever the finished product is, it will be done,” says Parson.

Parson says whatever is done will be for what’s best for Missouri.

The bipartisan House committee investigating the governor meets again Wednesday morning in Jefferson City. The House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight is set to meet at 9 a.m.

Greitens has admitted to an affair with his former hairdresser, but has denied any wrongdoing.

A television reporter asked Parson Tuesday if he’s “prepping himself in any way for any next steps” that could happen.

“I know what my obligations are if something should ever occur, I knew that in the beginning what they were, you just never thought it was going to happen,” Parson says. “So my job right now is to focus on being the best lieutenant governor I can be and if that oath comes to effect and my job expands then we’ll be ready for that expansion.”

Missourinet asked Parson if he talks to Governor Greitens much.

“Have not talked to him for awhile to say the least, but anyhow there’s a lot going on,” says Parson. “He’s, right now, the session’s been on, we’ve been very busy during the session time trying to move legislation forward for the state of Missouri.”

Parson also spoke Tuesday to Columbia Chamber of Commerce members on the Mizzou campus, and toured Veterans United Home Loans’ newest location on Vandiver.

Parson tells Missourinet the 28,000 square feet Boone County emergency communications center receives about 80,000 911 calls annually.

Center officials tell Parson the massive facility is designed to withstand 250 mile-per-hour winds.

Mike Parson was elected Missouri’s 47th Lieutenant Governor in 2016, beating former U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis. Parson receives the most votes of any Lieutenant Governor in Missouri history.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri town receives seven inches of rain in two hours; cleanup underway

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(Program director Chad Speakar at Missourinet Farmington affiliate KREI Radio contributed to this story)

PARK HILLS, Mo.- About 40 homes in southeast Missouri’s Park Hills have water damage after the city received seven to eight inches of rainfall in a two-hour period on Monday afternoon.

The southeast Missouri town of Park Hills received seven to eight inches of rain on Monday (photo courtesy of Chad Speakar at Missourinet Farmington affiliate KREI Radio}

Park Hills city administrator Mark McFarland tells Missourinet Farmington affiliate KREI Radio (AM 800) that surrounding towns have offered to help.

“We’ve had a lot of people volunteer. The city of Desloge was gracious enough to offer to help. The city of Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve) called and wanted to help,” McFarland says.

McFarland says the city has everything under control, at this point.

He says one home was completely destroyed by flooding, and was pushed off its foundation.

Utility crews have restored power in Park Hills, which has about 9,000 residents.

“We have 14 businesses with minor damage. We have two city streets that have major damage,” says McFarland.

McFarland says there were no injuries in the flooding, and he credits firefighters for blocking streets.

Cleanup efforts are underway in Park Hills, which is located in the St. Francis range of the Ozark Mountains. The city’s website says the city “boasts historic antebellum roots from the early lead mining industry, recreational activities, including the ATV area at St. Joe Park, great family parks and a city pool, a downtown with diverse architecture, and several surrounding wineries.”

McFarland says the city will hold a bulk trash pickup next week for larger items that need to be discarded.

KREI reports Unico Bank served barbecue to both flood victims and relief workers on Tuesday.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Severe storms to sweep into Missouri Wednesday night (MAP)

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The National Weather Service warns that northwest Missouri will begin to see storms between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and severe weather begins in metro Kansas City between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Meteorologist Jenni Laughlin told Missourinet that the storms will threaten the entire state Thursday, with the threat of straight-line winds, heavy rain, damaging hail and possible flooding.

Four tornadoes and high winds leave damage across southwest Missouri

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The weekend kicked off in southwest Missouri damaging winds and four tornadoes Friday evening.

Photo from Jeffrey Pettibone in Forsyth, Missouri near Branson courtesy of KOLR-TV

According to KOLR-TV meteorologist Wes Peery, the strongest twister was an EF-2 with wind speeds of 130 miles-per-hour in Macomb, which is roughly 50 miles east of Springfield.

EF-1 tornadoes with winds of 95-to100 miles per hour were reported in Dawson, Success, and Licking.

KOLR reports that Taney County saw straight-line wind damage to a highway bridge project in Forsyth near Branson.  Supplies and debris were blown across the structure of the Highway 76 bridge construction project while the surrounding landscape was strewn with debris.

KOLR reports a home was completely destroyed near Norwood along U.S. Highway 60 east of Springfield.  Homeowner Jack Chadwell says the house is a total loss.

“I think everything was destroyed,” said Chadwell.  “We got a few things out of the cabinet but all the stuff in there is destroyed. What the tornado didn’t take the rain came in last night.”

No one was inside the home when the twister blew through.  Chadwell says most of the house was leveled and shredded into rubble.

“You couldn’t possibly look at this and not be amazed at the power of that storm,” Chadwell said.  “We’re glad to be alive. And things could be worse.”

About 10 miles east of Norwood on Highway 60 is Mountain Grove, where a homeowner was home with his grandkids watching weather coverage. when the worst of the storms hit.  George Scott Told KOLR it all lasted about a minute and a half.

“All we heard was what we thought was hail, but it was probably just debris that was flying around,” Scott said. “The windows were fluctuating in and out and you could get a pressure sense in your ears like your ears popping.”

Scott’s house was damaged by straight line winds.  The garage was destroyed, as well as everything in it while the home’s roof, deck, and trees in the yard also received some damage.

Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV provided the content of this story