A series of dangerous storms roared across southern Illinois Tuesday night and into the early morning on Wednesday, destroying a farm near Vergennes, destroying several houses in and around Mulkeytown, Ava and Elkville and dropping golf ball-sized hail.
The Perry County Emergency Management Agency reported an observed tornado around 8:30 p.m., with the path of the storm headed straight for Du Quoin. The storm ultimately shifted its course, although the city was hit with high winds and golf ball-sized hail.
The storm was then expected to hit Christopher and then Benton, but shifted south.
Perry County, Missouri County Clerk Jared Kutz confirmed one person was killed and eight to 10 homes near the town of Perryville were badly damaged when the storm hit around 8:30 p.m. Perryville is about 80 miles south of St. Louis. Several cars and trucks were blown off I-55.
Search and rescue crews were going door-to-door in Perryville, and were searching for anyone who may have been injured on the interstate.
In southern Illinois, the storm wrought significant damage in western Franklin County. Significant damage was centered about one mile south of Mulkeytown on Route 184 and there were reports of one house that was destroyed
Ryan Buckingham, with the Franklin County Emergency Agency, reported downed trees and heavy debris on the road.
Meanwhile, the most intense damage seemed to be centered on Vergennes, Elkville and Ava in Jackson County.
Vergennes resident Tama Weil reported that her farm was completely "devastated," the storm having taken all of the buildings, grain bins and vehicles. Fortunately, no one on her farm at the time was injured.
WSIL-TV also reported some significant damage in Creal Springs.
A second wave of thunderstorms moved through around 11 p.m. with blinding rain and pounding hail.
A third wave was thought to be coming as well, perhaps arriving around 1 or 2 a.m.
Brian Tripp, with the Elkville Police Department, said his department was blocking traffic because of all the downed power lines all over town. Lines were down on Route 51 toward Du Quoin and west of town toward Vergennes.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office confirmed there was damage to five homes between Ava and Elkville -- including one home that was destroyed. There also were reports of injuries from flying debris.
With trees and power lines down, the sheriff's department was asking people to stay out of the area for safety reasons, and out of the way of emergency responders.
Saline County apparently was spared from the first round of storms that blew through the region, Saline County Emergency Services Disaster Agency Coordinator Allan Ninness said at about 10:30 p.m. That first storm system went north of Saline County.
However, a second round of severe weather was following closely behind, moving at a slightly more southern latitude.
"Galatia is going to be the first hit," he said.
He estimated storms reaching the area near Galatia at just before 11 p.m.
- Staff writers Travis DeNeal, John Homan, Holly Kee, Shea Lazansky and Geoff Ritter contributed to this story.
