The city of Glasgow is cleaning up after severe thunderstorms Monday morning brought down trees, limbs, and power lines all over town. Most routes in and out of town were cut off. The main route from Fayette and MO 87 is open, but Highway 5 heading west across the bridge into Chariton County was closed as of Tuesday morning, as was Highway 240 heading north out of town toward Keytesville.

Glasgow Mayor Donald Clear told the Advertiser on Monday that power and water were out all over town. It’s possible power could remain out for days; however, the city’s first priority is to restore power to the water plant and Charlie’s Quick Check. He asked that citizens stay home and allow city and emergency crews to do their jobs. The city is providing bottled water at City Hall. He said brush may be dropped off in the parking lot of John Donaldson Field behind the high school.

By Monday afternoon, Mayor Clear had issued an emergency declaration, placing the entire city in a Local State of Emergency for 72 hours.

The sound of chainsaws could be heard all over town Monday as a community effort was underway to clean up downed trees and limbs. Getting around town was like solving a maze. Some roads were cut off by downed power lines. Others by trucks and trailers, hauling away brush and limbs. On every street, leaves and twigs are plastered to the pavement. Damage occurred to the roof of Tri-County Trust Bank on the corner of Randolph and First streets. The roof of Glasgow Equipment Co. also sustained damage.

Other damage was reported around Steimetz in rural Howard County, east of Glasgow. But most of the county escaped the storm unscathed. Sheriff Jeff Oswald reported minor flash flooding along rural roadways, but no injuries or other damage.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Glasgow and nearby communities, including Higbee, Clark, Slater, and parts of Howard, Randolph, Chariton, and Saline counties, around 7:12 a.m. due to a severe thunderstorm showing rotation on radar. The warning was in effect until approximately 8:00 a.m., but the NWS has not confirmed a tornado touched down in Glasgow as of this writing.

The severe weather forced many area schools, including Glasgow and St. Mary’s, to call off classes for the day. Fayette delayed its Monday Falcon Club. Higbee schools remained closed on Tuesday. Ball games and track meets scheduled for Monday evening were canceled.

Power remains out for residents in Armstrong, Higbee, and Slater. In addition, emergency sirens in Armstrong are not functioning.

Additional photos on Page 4.