!!UPATE ON TORNADOS!!

Dozens Reported Injured as Tornadoes and Hail Rake Region 8

APRIL 3, 2006 - Posted at 7:44 a.m. CST



MARMADUKE, AR - Authorities say at least a half-dozen tornadoes that touched down in northeast Arkansas left

behind trails of destroyed homes and businesses and injured dozens of people. No deaths have been reported,

however, as of early this morning.

Damage was widespread at Marmaduke in Greene County, about ten miles north of Paragould.

Acting fire commander Chris Franks said nearly every structure in Marmaduke was damaged, about half of the

buildings in the town of 1,100 people were destroyed.

A spokesman at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center at Paragould reported that the hospital had treated 45 people

injured in the storms, most of them from Marmaduke. The spokesman said many of those injuries were minor.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said two people were also injured in Cross County, where a

tornado was reported near Wynne.

Cross County emergency official Gerald Britton said early this morning that he knew of five injuries.

A Cross County sheriff's office dispatcher said heavy damage was inflicted on homes and businesses in an area about

five miles south of Wynne, where several large trees were also uprooted.

Damage was also reported to the west in the Ravenden and Imboden areas of Lawrence County, as well as parts of

Randolph County.

Huge hail, some as large as softballs, also fell in some places. Newton Skiles, a meteorologist with the National

Weather Service's office at North Little Rock, said that the extra-large hailstones fell mostly in rural areas, where there

were few homes or vehicles to be damaged. But Skiles said that in White County, four-inch hail penetrated a mobile

home's roof and ceiling in several places, slamming into the interior of the residence.

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Search & Rescue Efforts Underway in Marmaduke


April 3, 2006 – Posted at 5:39 p.m. CST

MARMADUKE, AR -- Major storms bringing major damage. That was the theme across much of Region 8 Sunday

night.

One of the hardest hit areas was the Greene County town of Marmaduke. As the sun rose Monday morning, residents

finally were able to see the full wrath of Mother Nature.

“Last night it brought tears to my eyes and today I am just in awe. It is unbelievable,” said a resident , “If it

was your family, how would you feel?”

At least 50 were injured and taken to local hospitals but luckily, no casualties have been reported. A surprising fact

considering the homes that were destroyed.

“We had about 200 destroyed and another 100-150 that the shingles blew off or other damage,” said Marmaduke

Police Chief Franks as he worked to clear the debris.

With the mass destruction and rapid evacuation came the question.....was anyone left behind?

“We don't have a clear picture of how many people are unaccounted for so we are going through it slowly just to be

safe,” said Piggott Assistant Fire Chief Minton.

Going into Monday afternoon, about five people were unaccounted for. During the time K8 News was on the scene,

another couple checked in, lowering the number of people unaccounted to three.

The search and rescue process wasn't just relegated to those unaccounted. Select residents had the opportunity to go

in, to search and possibly rescue those precious meaningful items.

“Just a couple pictures, sentimental stuff, nothing else really to salvage I don't think,” said Long, “I just thought I could

find a couple things like that.”

As Long rummaged through what was left of his house he came across items that he had never even seen before.

Items that probably held special meaning to someone.

“Other people’s things, I found someone's check, found pictures of someone’s kids that I am sure they will want.

Somehow under the things that were mine,” said Long.

After a night when many Marmaduke residents lost just about all their possessions, for Long a simple picture of a loved

one was all he wanted.

“I looked and looked and I don't think I am going to be able to find it,” said Long wearily.

Classes in the Marmaduke School District are canceled again Tuesday, however, any available school employees that

are able to assist in on-campus cleanup efforts are asked to report to the cafeteria at 8:00 a.m
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Residents Try to Move on After Storms
April 3, 2006 -- Posted at 6:15 p.m. CST
MARMADUKE, AR -- Many residents in Marmaduke have lost everything.



Monday, families who could get to their homes spent the day rummaging through what’s left of their belongings.



Wayne Newell and his entire family escaped Sunday's tornado unharmed, with little more than the clothes on their

backs.



Now they are just trying to pick up the pieces.



“I really don’t know… it’s such a mess. I don’t know where to start, but I’ll just do a little at a time,” said Newell.



The Newell home is unlivable after Sunday night’s storm. A large tree fell on the roof during the storm and caused the

structure to shift.



But like others in Marmaduke, Newell and his family are getting plenty of help.



“You know, a person doesn’t really understand how much a people care until something really bad happens,” said

Newell.



While working on what’s left of their home, they’ve had many good neighbors stop by wanting to help.



“Everybody stops and asks if we need anything. Like I said, most of the people, I don’t even know who they are,” said

Newell.



Newell doesn't know where he and his family will go from here. There isn't any part of their property that escaped the

storm.



While losing his home and everything he and his wife have worked for is devastating, knowing his family is safe is all

that really matters.



“My family comes first. A job is just a job. They're everywhere. But, you've got to have family,” said Newell.

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