Published: February 06, 2008 04:05 pm            

Damaging winds punch through county

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By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

BELLE RIVE — As a packed courthouse waited for results of Tuesday’s primary election, thunderstorms and damaging winds packed a punch in the county, knocking out power in some areas, blowing over semis on Interstate 57 and leaving behind fallen trees and debris.

The Dix and Belle Rive areas received the most damage as a result of damaging winds, said Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch.

“Belle Rive and Dix got hit harder [than others] with flatline winds that took out trees, limbs and powerlines,” he said. “We had deputies all over the county when the storm hit.”

Mulch added that no injuries were reported in Jefferson County as a result of the storm.

Residents in the village of Belle Rive lost power at about 6 p.m. Tuesday, said Jefferson County Emergency Agency coordinator Denny Litton, with some residents’ power not restored until about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. About “30 to 50” large trees fell across the area of that community, he said.

A number of houses in the 400 block of Dogwood received major damage, as trees were uprooted in front yards and a small boat flew north about 200 yards between two properties. The boat, according to a witness, knocked out a front porch column and broke a window.

Responding to the damage in Belle Rive is the Disaster Recovery Quick Response Team, a group associated with the Salem South Baptist Association and Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief. The group is supported by 38 churches in Jefferson County and assists those in need during a time of crisis or disaster. It has a long history of traveling where needed to help others, according to Don Bigham of the SSBA.

On Wednesday, the group set up headquarters at the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church, where residents can sign up for assistance in the removal of trees and debris. Bigham said he surveyed at least 12 residential sites Wednesday, and crews would be working at four sites. The team aids anyone in the county who may need assistance.

And for those who may need assistance in the removal of trees or limbs, Mulch warns residents to take extra caution against scams. “We have to remember when storms go through the area, there may be a certain group of individuals who will do scams [for tree removal],” he stated. Mulch explained that individuals who do business in Jefferson County such as tree removal must have a permit on file with the county and have it on their person at all times.

“If they don’t have a permit, then we should be contacted immediately and told who these people are and what they’re doing,” said Mulch. He added doing business with those you know is “probably best.”

On Interstate 57, damaging high winds blew over a number of semis, which stalled traffic, according to Mulch. Shortly before 6 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a scene near mile marker 103 near Dix. He explained the wind blew a semi traveling southbound over in the median, stalling traffic for nearly an hour.

A few minutes after that call, another call went out in response to an accident in the southbound lane of I-57 near mile marker 81. According to the Jefferson Fire Protection District, one semi truck was blown over by the wind and crashed into a U-Haul truck. Then, about one-quarter mile down the road, another semi was blown over by the wind as well. No injuries were reported in the incidents, according to JFPD Chief Mike Huntman.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no information was available on the Illinois State Police media line.

For more information about the ongoing relief from the Disaster Recovery Quick Response Team or to sign up for assistance, you may call Jeremy Hamson with the Salem South Baptist Association at 231-1075, the Belle Rive Baptist Church at 756-2252 or Bigham at 244-0407.

        

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