West Memphis weathers
Community comes together to support their neighbors to the west
By DON WILBURN
donaldfwilburn@gmail.com
The day began with a first as West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon appeared on a Facebook live video to announce the City’s emergency preparedness plan to residents for incoming inclement weather. Later in the day the region would see at least four tornados rip though the immediate area and up to a dozen in other states with nary a drop of rain and narrowly avoiding major residential areas in what some described as the storms “threading the needle” between towns.
In the mayor’s announcement he informed citizens where they could acquire sandbags for possible flooding, that all pumps stations were serviced and ready and where shelter could be sought in a worst case scenario. Indeed many citizens did go to the shelters at the Avondale School and ASU. A source within City Hall
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A photo taken in Earle looking westward to Wynne during the tornado Friday evening.
Photo by Mark Simon
A estimated 200-year-old tree snapped in half at the Marion Cemetery caused by high winds
Photo by Don Wilburn WEATHER
From page A1
praised the mayor’s efforts to join together essential emergency personnel at an 8a.m. meeting and called it a “proactive and important step that the Mayor has embraced to keep everybody informed and the lines of communication open”.
As reports came in about devastating tornados hitting Little Rock and Wynne tensions increased until it was evident that Crittenden County was spared the worst of the damage with the storm literally passing between major areas and “jumping over the river” into Shelby County and the areas northward. Nine of Tennessee’s 15 recorded deaths occurred in McNairy County, about 100 miles east of Memphis.
While Marion was left without power and did suffer some visible damage, rumors abounded that Earle suffered some damages but The Times can con_rm that these rumors are not true according to the Earle Fire and Police Departments with one of_cer saying “There were just a few fallen trees, but nothing major” – although nearby Parkin saw damage from the winds and rain.
Mark Simon, 60, who works for the Crittenden County Roads Department and is also a volunteer _re_ghter in Earle, snapped photos with his wife Shawna of the storm from his front yard on Townsend Road.
“There was a little bit of damage, but nothing major. But man that wind would knock you off your feet” and stressed the importance of being prepared saying that it was important to not “get caught with your britches down. You gotta be ready to head to a closet, the _rehouse, or a brick bathroom if necessary”. Simon went on to praise the Mayor and Earle City Council saying “They are behind us 100 percent. Whatever we need, Earle, we get. They take care of us”. After the storm passed and the citizens of Earle were safe, Simon immediately made his way to Wynne with supplies and helped in rescue operations.
“Taking care of us” seemed to be a running theme among _rst responders in the county as immediately following the storm the City of West Memphis, honoring their mutual aid agreement with four other cities; Marion, Wynne, Trumann, and Forrest City, sent a crew of eight personal from the WMFD to aid in search and rescue. It was a _re_ghter from West Memphis who was the _rst to discover a double fatality in a home in Wynne.
“We didn’t even wait for calls to come in, we just sent our crew,” said Division Chief Mabe. “Later, we did receive the call from the Arkansas Department of Emergency management, but we had already sent people.” The following day the Department sent a Battalion Chief who ran operations and led secondary searches and helped remove debris. The Department also sent additional personnel and a _re engine to assist in day to day emergencies not related to the storm such as house _res, auto accidents, etc.
“While we send in resources,” Mabe continued. “The citizens of West Memphis should know that we do this without sacri_cing our own city’s needs. We are always fully prepared to take care of our own needs as well. But we in the _re department see each other as family, as brothers and sisters, when a disaster strikes we all have to respond. An event like this, while tragic, also serves to further strengthen those bonds. Our mutual aid pact is strong and we know they will be there for us when we need it. I am proud to serve with this fantastic group of people.”
It wasn’t only the _rst responders that jumped into action as several civilians made their way to affected areas taking supplies and checking on family. One of those citizens looking to do his part is Marion resident and owner of Hodges AG transport, Brad Hodges.
Hodges is organizing an event called “Fill the Truck” scheduled until April 15 in which people may drop off donations and he will be hauling them to Wynne for those in need. Donations maybe be dropped off now until the 15th at Marion Nutrition, Blue Collar Grappling Academy and Partners Bank in Marion. Suggested items include: laundry detergent and baskets, mens women and children’s’ clothing including under garments, tools, batteries, extension cords, ashlights, boxes, totes, candles, non perishable food and snacks of all kinds, bedsheets, towels, air mattresses, personal and feminine hygiene products, paper plates and plasticware, water and any clean up/building supplies including shovels, hammers, gloves, etc.
Groups such as the Junior Auxiliary of Crittenden County, Marion First Baptist Church, Cross Community Church and Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief went to or sent supplies to Wynne over the weekend and into this week.
The West Memphis Blue Devils softball team also jumped into action after assistant coach Keenan Jumper’s Wynne home was hit by the tornado, damaging the house, collapsing his carport and destroying his and his wife’s vehicles. The team spent Saturday, along with parents and Coach Mike Dobbins out at the Jumpers’ home helping to clear the carnage. They also wore Yellowjacket blue-andyellow ribbons in their hair for Monday’s game against Greene County Tech.
Those already in the vicinity of Wynne may donate directly to the city at City Hall.
The West Memphis Blue Devils softball team stand in solidarity with their rivals the Wynne Yellowjackets after last Friday’s deadly tornado. Blue Devils’ assistant coach Keenan Jumper and his wife lost their home and both vehicles at their residence in Wynne.
Photo by Ralph Hardin
Workers filling sandbags freely available to West Memphians ahead of the storm.
Photo courtesy of the City of West Memphis
