Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

9 Dead In Southwest Arkansas As Twister Begins Near Emmet

BY JOHN RAGSDALE

Disaster struck Nevada County and adjoining areas Saturday as a storm front moved through bringing with it death and destruction. However, no deaths were reported in Nevada County.

Although the death count was often revised -- up and down, depending on who you were talking to -- at least eight were killed in Arkadelphia. A motorist was reportedly killed along Interstate 30 in Clark County as well. Arkadelphia was hardest hit in this area.

A storm cell moved through the state, spawning several tornados from around Hope in Hempstead County all the way to Marmaduke in Greene County.

With the exception of a couple of twisters that veered off the path, a person could lay a ruler on an Arkansas map along Highway 67 and get close to almost all of them -- all of the worst ones.

Around Prescott the cell dumped destruction west of I-30 on Washington Road, Highway 371 North and Highway 19 North with some areas on county roads being hit as well.

In all four houses were completely destroyed and others extensively damaged, some slightly, some worse.

Carey Ashbrook was injured by a twister at his parents' home on Highway 19 North, about a half mile past I-30. He received numerous cuts from flying glass. He was taken to a hospital and released.

He was in a pickup that was twisted and turned over several times. Ashbrook was able to climb out of the pickup Saturday, although it was upside down in the yard when rescue workers arrived.

In Nevada County, homes belonging to Ashbrook, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Godwin, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Craig and Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Reeves were completely destroyed. There may have been others that have not been reported to the Picayune .

The Godwins live on Highway 371 North, formerly Highway 24 West (Blevins Road). The Craigs living on Highway 332 West (Washington Road). The Reeves south of Washington Road.

The storm was described as a tornado by witnesses, beginning in Hempstead County. It destroyed property at the University of Arkansas Experiment Station and Koen Farms just east of I-30.

Along the Interstate it demolished SWABT (Southwest Arkansas Bait and Tackle), owned by Steve and Lynn Cox at exit 36 (Emmet exit). They raise crickets and minnows for bait shops. Lynn Cox is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Milam of Prescott.

Several years ago they bought the cricket farm belonging to Bob Higginbotham. It was then located across from Potlatch adjoining Ellis Mobile Home Park. In 1992 the Coxes built near exit 36. They were also the dealer for Joy dog food.

Their mobile home was destroyed along with a cricket house, warehouse and their garage. Four vehicles were destroyed as well, including their large truck they use for deliveries.

Bryan Cox, one of their sons, was the only one at the cricket ranch at the time. Mrs. Cox, who works in Hope, was notified that a possible tornado was headed toward their place of residence and business.

She called Bryan, she said, and instructed him to go immediately to the overpass on Interstate 30. He barely made the bridge, he said, when the storm hit.

Steve Cox estimated the family's damage to be $150,000 or more.

Also torn down at the same site were three of four giant signboards on the Cox properlty. The fourth, directing tourists to Hot Springs, President Bill Clinton's childhood hometown, was leaning but not down.

Damage along the Interstate could be seen 200 to 300 yards west between exit 36 to Highway 332 near Prescott.

On Highway 332, there were two homes destroyed and three more damaged. No one was injured at this site either.

The storm first hit two houses off 332, destroying Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Reeves home and damaging one. On 332 it destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Craig. The only thing left was the slab concrete floor.

No one was home at the time. Mrs. Craig had gone to her parents' home, two houses east just before the storm hit.

After the strom she called her husband who was working at Hudson Foods in Hope. Coming through DeAnn, he said he couldn't believe the destruction when he saw where his house used to be.

Two vehicles were also destroyed at the Craig residence and debris was blown everywhere.

Even though tornados travel slowly, around 25 to 45 miles per hour, the winds rotating are usually blowing several hundred miles per hour. Such was the case Saturday.