Friday, April 12, 2013
Hazelwood Patch Editor Candace Jarrett reflects on experiencing the EF2 tornado that ripped through Hazelwood Wednesday. Where were you when the sudden storm hit?
As I wrap up my almost 24-hour work day, I'm finally able to sit back and think about the fact I survived a tornado on Wednesday. You always look at media coverage and movies where natural disasters happen, and I don't know about you, but I've asked myself time after time: "What would I do if I were in that situation?" First, I would pray to the good Lord above. Second, I would whip out my camera and go into journalist mode. Third, when all the chaos was over, I would ensure my family was OK. When it happens, plans go out the window, kind of like when you deliver a baby. As I drove down Howdershell Road Wednesday night, slowing to a halt near Lynn Haven Lane because of heavy rains, I can't tell you much about what happened because I was in…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
St. Louis County Emergency Management reports a confirmed tornado sighting near Wildwood and emergency crews are staging for response in Hazelwood.
The St. Louis area is feeling the impact of severe weather which has been building across the midwest Wednesday, and has resulted in a Tornado Warning from the National Weather Service for much of the area until at least 8:30 p.m. The St. Louis County Office of Emergency Management tweeted that there was a confirmed tornado sighting near Wildwood and that circulation was spotted near Florissant. In Hazelwood, there were reports on KMOV TV that St. Charles County officials were being staged at Armstrong Elementary School for tornado response. For more weather coverage, check out our weather partners at FOX2 News. Additional notes: Have you taken any photos from your area? Share them with us, please, using the Upload Photos and Videos button…
Sunday, April 15, 2012
A much greater threat for tornadoes exists today, the Weather Channel says.
Wentzville and the greater St. Louis-area is at the greatest risk to see severe weather, including tornados and large hail, today, The Weather Channel reports. Today's forecast, according to the National Weather Service, calls for a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5 p.m. However, thunderstorms are more likely later into the night and into early Monday. The Weather Channel says strong-to-severe thunderstorms are likely for a boundary that stretches more than 1,000 miles from the Great Lakes region southward into the heart of Texas. For tornado safety tips, CLICK HERE. For the difference between tornado watches and warnings, CLICK HERE. To stay up-to-date on all the latest news, including severe weather updates, …
Sunday, June 19, 2011
"It’s something we can do as Christians to serve our fellow person," church member Rodger McQuate said.
When the category EF5 tornado tore a wide path of destruction through Joplin, MO on May 22, most people could only watch the accounts in horror or donate to the American Red Cross to help relief efforts. But members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) at The Methodist Church at Wentzville grabbed their chainsaws and tools and headed down to Joplin to help with the massive cleanup. It was a powerful, moving experience. "The hardest thing in any tornado is the people are lost," said Rodger McQuate, part of the church’s ERT. "You realize at five o’clock they had everything in life, and at 5:15 it was all gone. So that’s quite a shock to their system." While they had helped in the aftermath of the recent North County tornado and previously in…
Friday, June 10, 2011
We can learn lessons locally from Joplin.
They sat in the basement and played games. Games! Tornado sirens ringing through the streets, and they played games. Joplin, MO is used to severe weather during the spring and summer months, so this was typical until the cable went out and the lights flickered. That’s when they knew that something was wrong. Tiffany is a college student at Ozark Christian College in Joplin. She had attended graduation the previous day to watch her older brother walk. That was May 21. She was planning on staying a few extra days to finish up her work schedule before heading home to Wentzville. So on May 22 she attended church, went to eat lunch with some friends, and headed to a classmate’s house. That’s when things began to change rapidly. Tiffany and and…
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sen. Rupp's weekly column.
- OPINION
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Monday, June 6, 2011
As I mentioned in last week’s column, the people of Joplin are enduring devastating hardships after a powerful EF-5 tornado swept through the town on May 22. Although sadness still looms over southwest Missouri, a glimmer of hope is on the horizon for Joplin. Numerous citizens from across our state and nation have made their way to Joplin to volunteer, and organizations are collaborating to help victims with everything from food service to rebuilding plans. The generosity demonstrated by these people is a true example of the American spirit — when a community is struck with grief, the rest of us are there to help pick up the pieces. Recently, a website was launched by Bright Futures, a grassroots, community-based program that creates …
Friday, June 3, 2011
Hope in the midst of the destruction.
It was the toys. That’s what got me. Everywhere you looked you could see traces of where a family once played, where a kid would be playing Rock Band on his/her PS3, where neighbors would gather for barbecue and games played in cul-de-sacs. You could see dinner tables still standing where a supper was eaten just a few hours earlier. Remnants of families’ lives scattered here and there. As I drove to Joplin with my good friend and co-worker Kris Hagemeier, we talked of memories of that city, the city where he and I went to college. It was in Joplin that I met my closest friends, the men and women that I still call my brothers and sisters today. It was in Joplin that I discovered what true love looked like and then married her. It was in …
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sen. Rupp's weekly column.
- OPINION
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Monday, May 30, 2011
Editor's Note: State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, has released his weekly column. The opinions expressed in the column are those of Sen. Rupp and do not reflect the views of Wentzville Patch. In the afternoon of Sunday, May 22, a powerful tornado hit Joplin, leaving thousands of buildings destroyed, hundreds of people injured, and of this writing, at least 125 dead. The storm has been titled the deadliest tornado that the United States has seen since records began more than 60 years ago. It’s hard to imagine the devastation that so many people have suffered — much of Joplin has been flattened, and families are desperately trying to find loved ones. I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies to all the victims of the Joplin tornado. You are…
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Local meteorologist from National Weather Service offers tips in the event of a tornado warning.
The best advice in preparing for severe weather is to plan ahead, according to Ben Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s (NWS) St. Louis Office. “Know what you are going to do before it happens,” Miller said. “For families, figure out where you usually are and where you’re going to go in the event of severe weather.” For detailed information from the NWS on severe weather preparedness and setting up plans for your family, click here. Also important, Miller said, is knowing the difference between a tornado watch and a warning. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado, he said. Watches are usually issued several hours in advance of the development of a tornado. A tornado warning …
Monday, May 23, 2011
Medics are part of regional strike team.
Just one month after twisters flattened St. Louis County homes and businesses, Mother Nature's wrath struck Missouri with what is being called the one of the most deadly tornadoes in state history. Sunday night a tornado ripped through the town of Joplin, where 89 people died and hundreds injured, about 310 miles from St. Louis in Southwest Missouri. The number of deaths are expected to increase as emergency responders sift through the rubble. The tornado hit St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin and caused significant destruction throughout the area. “We don’t know whether the Joplin tornado will be the worst in Missouri history,” said Ben Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s (NWS) St. Louis Office. “It’s too…
Candace Jarrett
2:13 pm on Friday, April 12, 2013
Thanks Rick. I'm glad to hear your are doing okay also. I haven't seen you on here lately. They always see pets and babies can sense these sort of things. more ›