Possible tornado hits ground in Dale County

OZARK — Joyce Goodson listened to the news while she was away from home on Wednesday to find out whether a tornado had touched down in Ozark.

It just so happened that one likely had — right on top of her barn and her sister’s house.

“It’s pretty damn scary honey,” the Logan Road resident said as she picked up overturned flower pots. “That’s a new roof it blowed off my barn. That’s my sister’s house it tore the roof from. We’re not gonna move the flagpole that hit the car ’til (the insurance) adjuster is here.“

Dale County emergency officials said the residence was one of two with major damage caused when a storm passed through just after noon on Wednesday.

Dale County Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Marsh said whether the damage had been caused by a tornado had yet to be confirmed, but that there was a tornado on National Weather Service radar at the time sightings were reported.

A second home was damaged on County Road 7 near Henry County when material from a carport was blown into the house, assistant Echo Volunteer Fire Department Chief Eric Blankenship said.

There were no reported injuries.

Matthew Simechak said he could hear what he dubbed a “circular” wind movement outside of his home on Logan Road around noon before walking outside.

“You could tell that things were moving in the yard rather than moving away. You could hear loud wind sounds,” he said.

Goodson said Wednesday marked the first time her family sustained weather damage on their property.

“It happens,” she said. “I suppose we couldn’t help that. We’re blessed there was no one here.”

Goodson said a cat at the residence, Princess, was not injured.