Tornado strikes Davis County

By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer

April 25, 2008 11:53 pm

— BLOOMFIELD — There was no warning before a tornado tore across Highway 63 near the Floris turnoff Friday.
“It scared the bejesus out of us,” said Kris Waller, 23, of rural Davis County. “We were just sitting there watching TV, and a monster wind kicked up from the east. A door we have blocked off blew open, and I looked out the picture window and saw dust being picked up and turned in a circle. I yelled, ‘Basement!’ We were downstairs within seconds.”
The Wallers were at their home northeast of Drakesville around 2 p.m. Friday.
“I did confirm it would have been a tornado that went through the north central part of our county, going northeast,” said Davis County Chief Deputy Dave Davis. “I do know we were not advised of this. We knew there was a thunderstorm watch but we were not made aware of any tornado warning.”
Davis contacted his dispatcher and had the information relayed to the National Weather Service.
“Nobody was ever reported as being hurt,” said Davis. “We definitely had seen how the trees were twisted. Trees, roof damage on two places, a garage and a barn, also a shed that held [a church] bus. No home was tore up that we know of in our county.”
“It was the darnedest thing. It went up and over the house, but it hit the garage,” said Waller. “While we were running downstairs, the house was shaking and it was pretty loud.”
There was not very much noise before the wind kicked up, though there had been a lot of rain, he said.
“When it was over, the sun was out and it wasn’t even sprinkling. We went outside and saw what it had done.”
“We have no idea how big this was,” said Deputy Davis. “I don’t think it was very big, but it definitely did damage for at least four miles. It crossed Highway 63.”
The eyewitness said as soon as he saw the spinning cloud on the ground, he didn’t stick around to give an accurate measurement.
“I only saw it for a second so I can’t tell you how big it was,” said Waller, who thought a moment before adding, “it was big enough.”
Waller feels if the tornado had hit the house instead of the garage, the family would have survived. So does he have any advice as tornado season descends?
“All I would say is don’t hesitate. We were just barefoot and hoofed it downstairs. We were downstairs within seconds. It was the fastest I’ve seen three grown men run.”
Meanwhile, Davis County was not the only county hit by Friday’s severe weather.
In Van Buren County, officials evacuated the county courthouse in Keosauqua after a possible tornado was spotted on County Road V64 west of Cantril.
More than 60 people headed to the basement of the courthouse at 2:20 p.m. Friday, including members of the jury deciding a Lee County case that had a change of venue to Van Buren County.
Officials also reported two power poles down across Highway 2 west of Cantril.
Courier correspondent Rusty Ebert contributed to this story.

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