Ice Storm! (Springfield, Webb City, Wright City: city hall, power lines, hotel)

[Ozarks21]

Wow! I mean Wow...

I just spent the last day at a friend's house. He is one of the small percentage of the area whose lights stayed on. I've driven around Springfield and almost every tree (not an exageration) has lost limbs. Some have been stripped to a stump. Others have uprooted and fallen over. Those that haven't broken or toppeled are bent over with the tops pointing to the ground. One young maple in my back yard has the top (normally 12 feet high) touching the grass (each blade of which is coated with ice as thick as your thumb).

I'll admit that I am among the very few who enjoy bad (even destructive) weather. It's inconvenient, but for the most part it isn't too dangerous around here if you use a little good sense.

[christina0001]

Did you take any pictures? What you describe sounds interesting. It's all part of nature.

[Shep836]

Hey! I live in Rochester, NY and have been lookin in SW,MO as a place to
move to. I just want to add that 10 years ago we had an ice storm like
Springfield had and I will never forget it. When the trees finally let go it was just like shotguns going off. All night long one huge crack after another. We
lost 200 hundred year old trees, houses ruined, cars demolished. Even when the trees hit the ground they would shake the entire house. The next morning
we went walking to see the damage and it was unbelievable. No one had any
power, all the streets were blocked with fallen trees. Emergency vehicles could not get anywhere. People were in the streets just staring. It took months to straighten it out and even today you can see trees all messed up and you know it was from that storm. I've been told that the people there are very friendly and thats what it's going to take to get through, just help anyone you can.

[Ozarks21]

I love the sense of community that comes from events like this. It really brings out the best in human nature - except in the lines at the gas station.

I'll try to figure out how to get some pictures posted in the coming days.

[Susanmp]

One question....did the electric go out in Wright City MO last Friday and if so, is ist still off? Thanks.

[Susanmp]

Did it go out in the Foristell area?

[Someone1515]

There was a church that caved in yesterday in Webb City. I also heard that Purcell City Hall caved in as well. I have heard that there was a few fires that were started.

[Ozarks21]

I have taken a number of photos but it will be awhile before I get a chance to post them. The Springfield News Leader has several excellent photos online. news-leader.com is the address. The amazing thing about the photos is that it is like that all over the area.

Keep in mind with the photos of the countryside that none of the white blanket covering the fields and trees is snow or sleet. It is all solid ice.

[Randy Henderson]

Just to give you an idea. I took these while out on Tuesday looking at a house for a client that had just purchased the week before. Hers was ok, but she lost a big tree. This is a picture of a typical street in midtown. Mind you, this is not the worst, just one of many. I had to turn around 6 times because of blocked streets, and probably ran over a dozen power lines.

[Darren Stewart]

I have taken some pics of the damage as well, and some of the trees, it will be awhile before I can have them posted as we are still without power and staying at a hotel.