City Of Sullivan Yet To Determine Cost Of April 15 Storms

Weather alerts were fast and furious late Saturday afternoon as a line of severe thunderstorms, some with tornadoes, golf ball to softball-sized hail, 90 mph winds and torrential rainfall struck the Sullivan Independent News coverage area shortly before 5 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, seven tornadoes impacted the St. Louis area. The storm that struck Sullivan was not a tornado.

In a statement released by NWS-St. Louis on its Twitter account, the damage survey results around Sullivan determined that it was done by 70 mph straight-line winds.

Significant roof damage occurred at the Sullivan Parks and Recreation Office/Chamber of Commerce Office, with it confined to the roof portion of the service storage areas of the facility at Springfield Rd. and North Church.

In downtown Sullivan, multiple buildings along Main St. had the roof peeled off exposing several businesses to damage including Kase Financial Services/Farmer’s Insurance, Two Shabby Chicks Resale and Secret Kitchen among others at Main St. and North Church.

Multiple storm damage was reported throughout the area with downed trees, power lines and flash flooding in Sullivan where multiple inches of rain fell within an hour.

Sullivan City Administrator J.T. Hardy, who also serves as Emerngecy Management For City of Sullivan responded to Sullivan Police Department Saturday during the storm and held operations from Police Headquarters.

“Our city crews did an amazing job following this storm with all of them pulling together to assist in the damage cleanup,” said Hardy. “From the Electric Department, Water and Sewer Department, Parks Department, Street Department and Police Department, all worked together.”

Hardy reported the Franklin County Emergency Management had reached out to offer any services if needed, but city crews were able to handle the tasks at hand.

Sullivan firefighters manned stations in the community and responded to numerous calls for assistance during and after the severe thunderstorm moved through the area.

Hardy reported that the city also received damage to dugouts at Sunny Jim Bottomley Park, trees downed in the park, a downed light pole, water damage at Sullivan Skating Rink and damages to some storm sewers and roadways from flooding.

“We don’t have a monetary total on the storm damages to city property at this time or from private business and homeowners from the storm,” said Hardy, Monday, from his office at Sullivan City Hall. “Right now we’ve been out assessing the damage to the structures and continuing cleanup efforts.”