Two people were hurt when a confirmed tornado ripped their mobile home from its foundation as it moved through southeast Pulaski County on Saturday morning, March 9.
A National Weather Service survey team classified the tornado as an EF-1. It started in far Southeast Pulaski County and traveled a 6.4-mile path into Southwest Lonoke County, reaching 150 yards in width, according to surveyors.
In total, two mobile homes were destroyed by the tornado, which also leveled trees, damaged powerlines and tossed a metal building near Scott. Crews spent the afternoon cleaning up debris and working to restore power.
“I looked out the window and seen debris flying,” said Mark Ayers, who lives near the homes destroyed on Scruggs Road.
As the storm passed, Ayers ran to search for the residents of one of those homes. Though Ayers initially feared the worst, a Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said both occupants escaped and walked to a neighbor’s home.
“When I'm turning over debris, showers and miscellaneous parts to a mobile home, and realize how thin and how unsafe they are it was a relief to know they were okay,” Ayers said.
The two were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to PCSO.
The tornado’s damage was also evident west of Scruggs Road, where it destroyed a tool shop, damaged a tractor shed and tossed a metal barn on a farm off Highway 161.
That homeowner said she and her family took cover just in-time.
“It didn't get our houses,” Kimberly Downs said, “so we're lucky, but our neighbors to the east of us are not so lucky. They had some injuries and some structural damage, so we need to see if there's anything we can do to help them.”
Downs said she's thankful for the friends and neighbors who spent the afternoon helping he family clean up.
The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office also reported damage from a separate, unconfirmed tornado near Hamilton Loop and Skipper Lane in Carlisle. The National Weather Service plans to conduct a survey in that area Sunday or Monday.
