Carl Junction Archives

Missouri congressman describes tornado-damaged Carl Junction as “total devastation” (AUDIO)

May 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A congressman who represents southwest Missouri on Capitol Hill describes the devastation in tornado-damaged Carl Junction as “mind-boggling.” U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, traveled to Carl Junction on Friday to view tornado damage.

Missouri Congressman Billy Long tours tornado-damaged Carl Junction on May 24, 2019 (photo courtesy of Congressman Long’s office)

He traveled by golf cart, to get further inside the battered subdivision.

“There were 19 homes that were totally destroyed, there’s a lot of them that suffered significant damage but they can probably be saved,” Long says.

Congressman Long says two-story homes were cut in half by the EF-3 tornado, which the National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says had estimated peak winds of 140 miles per hour.

The NWS says the tornado was on the ground for 14 minutes.

Long praises volunteers who turned out to assist, saying there is a lot of community spirit in the town of about 8,000 residents.

Long tells Missourinet one homeowner approached him during Friday’s tour, with tears in his eyes.

“(He) shook hands and hugged me and he said ‘thank you, thank you.’ He said, we saw you go by on the golf cart awhile ago and we were just so appreciative of you taking the time to come down here,” says Long.

He says residents are appreciative knowing that someone cares. Governor Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley also visited Carl Junction, after the tornado.

Long is encouraging Carl Junction residents who need assistance in the tornado’s aftermath to call his office. Congressman Long’s Springfield office number is (417) 889-1800 and his Joplin office number is (417) 781-1041.

Congressman Long also says he wishes he could propose legislation to eliminate May 22 on the calendar and go from May 21 to 23. While he’s being facetious, he says he’d like to never hear about May 22 again, except to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.

When Long’s oldest daughter was born on May 22, 1986, his wife’s hospital bed was moved into the hallway at Mercy Hospital in Springfield because of a tornado. The deadly 2011 Joplin and Wednesday’s Carl Junction tornadoes also happened on that date.

“May 22nd of 2011, May 22nd of 2019, just that day for some reason seems to really bring out the tornadoes here in tornado alley,” Long says.

Long describes the scene in Carl Junction as “total devastation.” He says he’s been in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order to help in any way possible.

While there was no deaths nor injuries reported in Carl Junction, the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) says a tornado killed three people that evening in nearby Golden City.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Missouri Congressman Billy Long, which was recorded on May 24, 2019:

Hawley to tour tornado-damaged town in southwest Missouri on Friday

May 23, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s junior senator plans to visit tornado-damaged Carl Junction Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield issued a tornado warning for southwest Missouri’s Carl Junction on May 22, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley plans to visit with first responders and community leaders in southwest Missouri’s Carl Junction Friday at 1 p.m.

He’ll tour a subdivision that was struck by an EF-3 tornado, during Wednesday’s storms.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield says their preliminary survey finds that Wednesday night’s tornado in Carl Junction had estimated peak winds of 140 miles per hour. The NWS says the tornado was on the ground for 14 minutes.

While numerous homes were damaged, there were no injuries nor deaths in Carl Junction.

Governor Mike Parson traveled to Carl Junction on Thursday to tour the subdivision, telling Missourinet Joplin affiliate KZRG that he’s impressed with how residents came together to assist one another in their time of need.

The governor says the state will provide all of the necessary resources to help get residents back on their feet.

KZRG reports more than 30 homes sustained significant damage from the tornado.

Classes were cancelled in Carl Junction on Thursday.

Carl Junction’s motto is “Growing with Pride.” The town has about 8,000 residents.

DPS confirms three storm fatalities in southwest Missouri’s Golden City area (AUDIO)

May 23, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirms three people have been killed in and near southwest Missouri’s Golden City, during Wednesday evening’s storms.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield issued numerous tornado warnings on May 22, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

Reporter Rob Meyer at Missourinet Joplin affiliate KZRG (AM 1310) says the storm stayed intact from Oklahoma into southeast Kansas and into Missouri.

“Joplin was spared but Carl Junction, which is a community just to the north of us, took significant damage. We have reports of several homes being completely destroyed,” Meyer says.

DPS confirms there were several injuries in Carl Junction, which is northwest of Joplin.

Jasper County’s emergency management director tells the “Joplin Globe” there is also tornado damage in nearby Oronogo.

The “Joplin Globe” reports Carl Junction schools have canceled classes for Thursday. The newspaper also reports the Carl Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing a volunteer effort to remove storm debris.

Meyer says Carl Junction authorities are working to determine how many homes were destroyed.

“I do know that the Carl Junction Police Department and the authorities up there are actually trying to keep people out of the affected area so they can assess the damage themselves,” says Meyer.

Meyer says about a dozen homes have been destroyed in Carl Junction, adding that numerous other homes have roof damage.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield will send survey teams to the area to determine if tornadoes or straight line winds caused the damage. However, Meyer, who anchored KZRG’s Wednesday night on-air coverage, tells Missourinet it was a tornado.

Meyer says the tornado stayed on the ground, intact, from Oklahoma into Kansas and then into southwest Missouri.

He also notes Wednesday was the 8th anniversary of the 2011 Joplin tornado, which killed about 160 people.

The NWS warned Wednesday morning that possible tornadoes and flash flooding were possible across southern Missouri.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview Wednesday evening with KZRG’s Rob Meyer, which was recorded on May 22, 2019, before the storm fatalities were confirmed by DPS: