WARREN, Ark. – Warren faced a barrage of severe weather on Friday morning, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The storms, characterized by strong winds and heavy rains, struck between 5 am and 6 am, causing the most significant damage on George St. and Glover St.
Top photo: A home on George Street lies in ruins follow the storms of early Friday morning, January 12, 2024.
The impact on George St. was particularly severe, with at least one home completely destroyed by what witnesses described as straight-line winds. Large trees were snapped at the trunk, contributing to the chaos.
Otis Young, a resident of George St. whose home was obliterated, shared his harrowing experience with the Saline River Chronicle. “It happened all of a sudden. We were just lucky to get out of there alive,” Young recounted.
Numerous other homes and structures on George St. suffered severe damage or were entirely destroyed. Emergency crews were deployed to the area on Friday morning to aid in the cleanup and document the extensive damage, including downed power lines.
Even local businesses were not spared, as the South Ark Auto Auction, situated at the corner of Rock and George St., reported serious damage to an open metal garage and a rolling bay door.
Glover St. also experienced its share of devastation, with several large trees downed, roofs torn off homes, and power lines scattered across the street. Some residents reported hearing what they believed to be a tornado, although confirmation is still pending.
Additional reports of damage surfaced from Henry Street, Park Lane, and Marie Drive. A large tree reportedly fell at Church St and Reep Rd, causing power outages in Cloverdale.
Warren Mayor Gregg Reep assured the community that the city is actively responding to the crisis. “I’ve got our staff checking on each situation. The City first responded with our rescue personnel to a home on Glover St. We responded to that immediately,” Mayor Reep stated.
He added, “We’re working on getting all the streets open at this time. We will be notifying the National Weather Service to come in and make a ruling on if this was a tornado or straight-line winds. We are in the process of contacting the State Office of Emergency Services to see what type of assistance they can provide us, both the City and individual residents.”
Mayor Reep urged residents facing significant damage to contact the Mayor’s Office, leaving their name and location for the most effective assistance. City crews are actively engaged in recovery efforts and will continue to do so.
MORE PHOTOS OF THE STORM DAMAGE AROUND WARREN SUBMITTED BY READERS:
(Submit your own photos by texting 870-820-2894. Please include the location.)
