Three people were killed and 29 32 (updated at 4 p.m.) others injured as powerful tornadoes tore through parts of numerous counties Friday night, according to state emergency officials.
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) confirmed the fatalities in Independence County and reported injuries across eight counties as a storm system swept through the state.
Cave City and the Claxton Loop Road area in Cushman sustained significant damage, with emergency crews and volunteers working to assess the destruction and help residents. On Saturday afternoon, Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery issued a dusk-to-dawn curfew for Claxton Loop in Cushman, the Sandtown community, and Coon Creek/Coon Creek Annex until further notice. Jeffery said the curfew would be enforceable by law.
The Cushman City Hall has been collecting items for those affected by the storms.
Other areas impacted included parts of Izard and Stone counties, as well as Oil Trough in Independence County.
Cave City Mayor Jonas Anderson declared a state of emergency and implemented a dusk-to-dawn curfew until further notice. He said an unofficial count shows five people were injured in the city, three of whom were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No fatalities have been reported in Cave City itself.
The major damage appears to follow a path from the cemetery eastward to W. Center Street, crossing Main Street at the intersection and continuing through the neighborhood to North Street, then behind the high school and beyond, Anderson said.
He urged residents to adhere to the curfew and asked the public to stay off the roads to allow emergency crews to work. Anderson said vegetation debris is also being hauled out of the city and out of the way.
Emergency supplies can be delivered to the Cave City Fire and Rescue on North Street. Volunteers should report to the Cave City Middle School parking lot. Food is also being prepared and served in the middle school parking lot for those assisting in recovery and those directly affected by the storm.
Those conducting welfare checks or inquiring about missing persons should contact Sharp County dispatch at (870) 994-2211.
Currently, sixteen (16) counties in Arkansas have reported damage to ADEM.
These counties include: Baxter, Clark, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Nevada, Phillips, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, and Woodruff.
Above images are from Highway 5 between Mountain View and Calico Rock
In Stone County, where the community of Fifty-Six received damage, emergency management officials are coordinating with ARDOT and closing Highway 14 to thru traffic at Highway 87, Roasting Ear, and Highway 341 due to an influx of onlookers impeding emergency crews. According to Stone County Emergency Management, only residents of the area will be allowed to enter. All incoming resources need to be coordinated with Stone County OEM at (870) 615-4486 or Fire Chief Aaron Byrd at (870) 615-1018. The Fifty-Six City Hall has been set up as a command center.
Most counties are still assessing the full extent of the damage, but reports indicate impacts to homes, businesses, and downed power lines and trees.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a State of Emergency in response to the extensive damage and power outages affecting numerous counties across Arkansas. The State of Emergency will remain in effect until Saturday, March 29, 2025, unless otherwise terminated.
The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has received and processed several requests for assistance from impacted counties. This includes the delivery of three generators to Sharp County by the Arkansas Rural Water Association (ARWA) and the deployment of a Satellite on Wheels (SOW) and a Cellular on Wheels (COW) from AT&T and Verizon to support radio and cellular tower operations in Cave City.
Fifty-two members of the Arkansas National Guard have also been dispatched to assist with general assistance and site security efforts in Cave City.
No information on the fatalities has been released.
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