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Tornado Strikes Jonesboro, Ark., Injuring at Least 6, Official Says Tornado Strikes Jonesboro, Ark., Injuring at Least 6, Official Says
(about 1 hour later)
A tornado struck Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday evening, injuring at least six people and damaging a mall, local business and an airport, according to the authorities. A tornado cut through the heart of Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday evening, injuring at least six people and damaging a mall, local business and an airport, according to the authorities.
Mayor Harold Perrin of Jonesboro said six people had minor injuries, although he warned that the tally could increase as the authorities continued to search damaged buildings. Mayor Harold Perrin of Jonesboro said the number of people known to have been injured could rise as the authorities continued to search damaged buildings.
He said the large number of people staying at home because of the coronavirus pandemic might have reduced the number of injuries as the tornado cut a swath from the southern part of the city to the northern part, damaging the Mall at Turtle Creek, the Jonesboro Municipal Airport, an Anheuser-Busch granary and local shops. He said the fact that many residents were staying home because of the coronavirus pandemic might have kept the number of injuries low. As the tornado sliced from south to north, it damaged the Mall at Turtle Creek, the Jonesboro Municipal Airport, an Anheuser-Busch granary and local shops.
Bill Campbell, a city spokesman, said two-thirds of the mall and several hangars at the airport were destroyed.Bill Campbell, a city spokesman, said two-thirds of the mall and several hangars at the airport were destroyed.
Multiple cars on a freight train had also been knocked over, potentially leaking hazardous materials, he said. Several vehicles were also overturned and knocked into ditches, Mr. Campbell added. A number of cars on a freight train were knocked over, and hazardous materials might have leaked, he said. Several vehicles were also overturned and knocked into ditches, Mr. Campbell added.
Mr. Perrin said the city had ordered a 7 p.m. curfew to allow emergency vehicles to pass through traffic unimpeded and to discourage gawkers. “If we come through this without a loss of life, it will be a minor miracle,” he said.
“Right now, we have a great amount of damage,” said Sally Smith, a spokeswoman for the Jonesboro Police Department, who added that the authorities from across northeast Arkansas had been summoned to assess the damage. Mr. Perrin said the city had ordered a 7 p.m. curfew, to let emergency vehicles pass through the streets unimpeded and to discourage gawkers.
“Right now, we have a great amount of damage,” said Sally Smith, a spokeswoman for the Jonesboro Police Department, who added that officials from across northeast Arkansas had been summoned to assess the damage.
Mr. Perrin said the Arkansas National Guard was also helping.Mr. Perrin said the Arkansas National Guard was also helping.
“I am paying close attention to the report of a tornado hit in Jonesboro,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson wrote on Twitter. “I know there is property damage. Just praying all is safe.”“I am paying close attention to the report of a tornado hit in Jonesboro,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson wrote on Twitter. “I know there is property damage. Just praying all is safe.”
The Mall at Turtle Creek — which includes a Dillard’s, JCPenney and a Target — had been temporarily closed because of the coronavirus, according to its website, although “essential stores and restaurants with exterior-facing entrances” had remained open. The Mall at Turtle Creek — which includes a Dillard’s, a JCPenney and a Target — had been temporarily closed because of the coronavirus, according to its website, although “essential stores and restaurants with exterior-facing entrances” had stayed open.
“There was severe damage to our shopping center and emergency services are on site,” said Lindsay Kahn, a spokeswoman for Brookfield Properties, which owns the mall. “We are very grateful that there are no reported casualties within our property. This is a devastating time for our community and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.” “There was severe damage to our shopping center and emergency services are on site,” said Lindsay Kahn, a spokeswoman for Brookfield Properties, which owns the roughly 700,000-square-foot mall. “We are very grateful that there are no reported casualties within our property. This is a devastating time for our community and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.”
Rick Smith, a warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., said his son had been in the tornado. Jonesboro, which is home to about 77,000 people, had sounded its 33 tornado sirens several minutes before the tornado struck, said Jeff Presley, the city’s E-911 director.
Said Said, the owner of Triple S Phone & Computer Repair, said he was just about to close up his shop when he heard the sirens blaring and saw debris flying outside.
“I was really scared,” he said. The power went out, and he sat down on the floor of his shop to record a video of the approaching tornado, he said.
“I was just praying nothing would happen to me or my store,” he said.
His shop was not damaged, he said, but several others nearby were, and windows of his car were broken. Later, he uploaded the video to his Facebook page; it shows electricity flashing at the base of a funnel cloud as it churns up debris outside his shop.
Rick Smith, a warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., said his son had been in Jonesboro when the tornado hit.
“He’s okay but there’s a lot of damage,” Mr. Smith wrote on Twitter. “So scary.”“He’s okay but there’s a lot of damage,” Mr. Smith wrote on Twitter. “So scary.”
The tornado struck Jonesboro at about 5 p.m. before moving northeast, according to the National Weather Service office in Little Rock.