Businesses along Highway 76 in Branson have taken heavy hits from severe storms involving tornadoes and high winds in the Midwest last night, and reports of damage at the Branson Landing and the Branson Convention Center have surfaced.
The storms have left at three Missourians dead and several injured, and significant damage has been caused to business and tourist locations, according to a report from Gov. Jay Nixon's office. According to an
Associated Press report, storms also struck towns in Illinois and Kansas, and at least nine people have been killed.
As of 10:30 a.m., Skaggs Regional Medical Center reported it had treated 33 patients injured by the storm.
The extent of the damage has not yet been fully realized, but photos posted to a
Branson tornado Facebook page set up by the University of Missouri Extension show significant damage to the Branson Convention Center and the Branson Landing. According to the Facebook page, Joplin-based Empire District Electric Co. - which serves customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas - reported at many as 6,500 outages, which had been reduced to 5,500 by 11 a.m. A video from the
Weather Channel also showed damage at the Branson Welcome Center.
"We're a little ahead of the height of the season, so I'm certain that within a few weeks, we'll be up and open for business," Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said in the video.
Information is being provided throughout the day at
Facebook.com/BransonTornadoInfo. According to a news release from the University of Missouri Extension, the page had as little as two "likes" before the storm, but that figure had jumped up to more than 7,000 by 10:39 a.m.
Nixon this morning signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in response to storm damage in the communities of Branson, Buffalo, Cassville, Lebanon, Kimberling City and Oak Ridge.
Nixon's executive order activates the State Emergency Management Plan, allowing state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with emergency response efforts.
"My emergency management team and I have been tracking these storms through the night and coordinating with local officials to ensure the safety of affected Missourians and to make sure that local responders have the resources and support they need,” Nixon said in the release. "As we did throughout 2011’s numerous emergencies, the state of Missouri will assist at every stage of this response to keep Missouri families safe and help communities recover and rebuild."
The governor has planned visits to the affected areas this afternoon to observe the damage and meet with local officials, responders and affected residents.
Nixon first will visit Nixa in a scheduled stop to recognize Nixa School District with an education award, and he will later visit Branson at 1:15 p.m. at the Branson Mall on Highway 76 West, followed by a 3 p.m. stop at the Cassville Municipal Airport.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in a separate news release the storm damaged is being closely monitored, and he encouraged anyone requiring assitance to contact his office at (417) 877-7814 or the American Red Cross at (417) 832-9500 or
www.RedCross-Ozarks.org.
"As Missourians have always demonstrated in the face of adversity, I have no doubt that our communities will rally together to rebuild and our neighbors will serve as the first and last responders during this time of need," Blunt said in the release.
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