Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Korean Group Visits Arkadelphia

A delegation from South Korea visited Arkadelphia Wednesday, May 14, to tour the storm ravaged town.

Three representatives from the Korean Embassy offered their nation's sympathy for the damage wrought from the March 1, tornadoes, giving the city $1,000 as a token of aide.

Ambassador Kun Woo Park told members of the Clark County Industrial Council he had seen footage of the destruction on the news and couldn't believe the damage the tornadoes had caused.

"On behalf of the Korean government and people who love you," he said, "we are pleased to send out sympathy and comfort. God continues to love you and let you live and have hope."

Park said his town was destroyed much as Arkadelphia was some 50 years ago. He said the people also enjoyed the circumstances to rebuild Arkadelphia now has.

"Despair," he said, "is the basis for new hope. We hope those who have scars now will heal. We bless you all. Remember though Korea is far from here, we are with you."

Percy Malone, state representative, also spoke, saying the area has enjoyed economic growth for the past few years, as has Korea.

He said the people of Arkadelphia and Korea have the same ingredients: caring and friendship.

"We have all pulled together," he said, "and will make the best of it. We're all working together and have a lot of goals. We're trying to make things better."

Malone said he was downtown when the tornadoes hit. As soon as possible, he called the governor to tell him of the devastation wreaked by the storms. Gov. Mike Huckabee declared Clark County a disaster area, which put the forces of the state behind the county.

Then, Malone called James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Pres. Bill Clinton. Clinton and Witt responded on a national level to assist the storm ravaged county, promising financial aide and visiting days after the twisters hit.

Once the damage was assessed and some of the people began putting their lives back together with the aid of grants and low interest federal loans, Hollywood producer, and former Arkansas native, Harry Thomason entered the picture.

Thomason presented the city with a vision, Malone said, of how things could be after the rebuilding.

According to Malone, the residents of the city and county have let their desires be known as to what they want the city and county to be once the rebuilding is completed.

He said when meetings were first held after the twisters, people began discussing the short term needs. This led to the area's needs for the future, and how both could be addressed simultaneously.

"We've made a lot of great strides," Malone said. "We have a model and plan. We're starting to put the ideas and concepts together and will present our idea to local officials on where they want to go.

"We see this as an opportunity to rebuild and be better than we were before."

Jim Burns, Clark County Office of Emergency Services coordinator, told of his exploits when the twisters hit.

A watch was given on March 1, he said. If all had worked according to plan there would have been several storm spotters dispersed throughout the county. However, as it occurred on a Saturday afternoon, few people were available. Burns said there were spotters in the Beirne and Okolona areas though.

He went to Southfork to see if a tornado could be seen developing as this is the normal track such storms take in Clark County. Burns heard reports of tornadoes in Hempstead and Nevada counties, with wind damage done in both.

"I went to get a better vantage point," he said, "and got a call a tornado was on the ground in the Southfork Community."

Burns headed back toward Interstate-30, but was blocked by a tree falling across the road in front of him. Another tree trapped him as it fell to the rear of his vehicle.

"I saw the tornado going away from me," he said. "I saw it break a large pine tree.

Burns used his mobile radio to call the Clark County Sheriff's Office and have the emergency sirens set off to warn the people. Area radio stations were also notified about the approaching tornado, so they could let people know they needed to seek shelter.

Once the twisters hit and left, a command center was established west of I-30. However, the area became too congested and the center had to be moved, eventually ending up at the Clark County Fairgrounds where there was no electricity or phone service.

The Korean delegation also heard from Judy Sligh, who was trapped inside her business when the tornadoes hit downtown.

When she heard the storm coming, she said, the got under a counter because the front of her building was glass windows.

"It all moved in on me," she said. "The last thing I saw was glass shattering and coming into the building.

"I thought I was going to die. I didn't expect to get out. The suction, force, I can't describe it."

She said the event only lasted a few seconds, but she was trapped when it was over and couldn't move. "Help arrived quickly. I was out of the building in about a half-hour.

"I'm lucky to be alive. Arkadelphia's lucky and fortunate 300 to 500 people didn't die. The destruction went on for miles and miles."

Rev. Lew Terry said the area needs to meet the needs of those people hurting in the aftermath.

Mike Cobb, Arkadelphia mayor, was in Little Rock when the storm hit and unable to get back to Arkadelphia quickly. He had to get troopers with the Arkansas State Police to help him get downtown.

"I couldn't prepare for what I saw or felt when I saw the area," he said. "I'm impressed with what's been accomplished in such a short period of time.

"I continue to be amazed at the spirit the community has shown and how we've helped each other.

"We will rebuild and be bigger and stronger than in the past."

Once the speakers concluded, the delegation toured the city to see firsthand the devastation and rebuilding process.