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Governor tracks storms from early radio show to late news conference Saturday, May 3, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Gov. Mike Beebe statewide radio program doubled as a weather broadcast early Friday, interrupted by several bulletins on a severe storm outbreak in the state that included some deadly tornadoes. Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample, a former television news reporter, also went on the air with the governor to update listeners with storm information he was receiving from the state Department of Emergency Management. The high winds and tornadoes killed seven people across the state, including a Siloam Springs teenager who died early Friday when a tree fell into her bedroom and a father and son in Conway County. Three people also were reported dead in Van Buren County and one in Pulaski County, according to emergency department said. Also, at least 350 homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes, the governor said during a late afternoon news conference at ADEM headquarters. An apparent tornado also damaged Earle High School and a Parkin factory Friday afternoon, and an elementary school and a fire station in Carlisle also were hit, Beebe said. "It's been a full day of pretty active weather all over the state," he said, obviously distressed. The governor said Arkansas National Guard troops from Fort Smith were being sent to Damascus and some communities around Greers Ferry Lake Friday evening to help with security. Guardsmen were on standby in Little Rock and Jonesboro for possible deployment to other areas of the state hard hit by the storms. Also Friday afternoon, Emergency Management Director Dave Maxwell spoke with FEMA Director R. David Paulson and was told federal help was on the way, the governor said. Friday's tornadoes marked the third time this year dangerous storms have struck the state. On Jan. 8 a tornado struck the small community of Appleton in Pope County, killing one person. Less than a month later on Feb. 5, several tornadoes struck the state, killing 14. One of the tornadoes stayed on the ground for more than 100 miles from Conway to Baxter counties and hit the towns of Atkins, Clinton and Gassville, causing major damage. Friday morning's "Ask the Governor" radio program on the Arkansas Radio Network began just as high winds and tornadoes were hitting Damascus, on U.S. 65 in extreme northern Faulkner County, and Bee Branch in Van Buren County. Beebe urged the radio network to interrupt his call-in show as often as possible to inform the public about the severe weather. "If our callers get interrupted in the middle of a call, I hope they understand because it's more important for us to get the word out and keep all the listeners posted about the severe weather or potential threat so they can protect themselves and take cover," Beebe said. The governor said Friday's severe weather outbreak, along with several other major violent storms and flooding that have hit the state in recent months have caused major damage. "We've had almost 60 counties that I have declared disaster areas ... and the federal government has followed suit," Beebe said. "This is an extremely unusual late winter and spring," he said. "We seem to have had cooler and wetter climate periods, and we seem to have had all the extreme and severe weather." |
