Vilonia suffers direct hit from storms

VILONIA, Ark. (KTHV) -- A round of severe weather left a path of destruction across the state, most heavily felt in the small community of Vilonia where two people died, dozens of homes were demolished, but all residents are accounted for.

Faulkner County Sheriff Karl Byrd says his office confirms 4 deaths from the surrounding area, 3 from the Black Oak Ranch Area. The storm damage area from what officials estimate was a 1-2 mile tornado at its base, is 3 miles wide and 15 miles long. Byrd attributes the lives saved to the county's Code Red Alert system and to plenty of warning from television and radio.

The Vilonia fire chief says that 12 people missing early Tuesday morning are now accounted for after storms hit the central Arkansas community. Officials will be going door to door later this morning checking on residents.

Fire officials are prohibiting anyone from entering the area of Vilonia at this time. The streets are littered with power lines, trees and other debris. Sheila Maxwell with the Office of Emergency Management says they are 75 percent complete with damage assessment- so far, 60 homes completely destroyed, 51 with major damage, 77 with minor damage and 175 with affected damage.

Stephan Hawks with the Faulkner County Office of Emergency Management is asking that anyone wishing to help with the cleanup wait until his office has had a chance to evaluate the damage.

"Right now we appreciate everybody who'd want to help, but right now need to get our bearings straight," says Hawks. "We will get that information out for people to come together and I hope they will continue to want to help this community."

Mayor James Firestone says residents are still in need of several items - pillows, blankets, non-perishable food and the like, and donations can be dropped off at Vilonia High School.

FEMA is arriving tomorrow at Noon at the Vilonia Fire department to assist with damage control. If you have any damage, report it at 501-450-4935.

Gov. Beebe has declared a state of emergency, retroactive to April 19, when another series of violent storms moved through Arkansas.

Verizon Wireless is delivering numerous activated phones to a location in Vilonia for families who have lost their phones or whose phones were damaged in last night's storms. Verizon also is setting up a charging station for anyone who needs to charge their wireless device, and we're providing internet capability through our mobile hot spot devices for anyone who needs access to handle personal business after last night's storms.