LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Hail the size of tennis balls fell in parts of north Arkansas while powerful winds pummeled the southern half of the state as severe weather struck late Thursday and early Friday.
No tornadoes have been confirmed in the storms that hit the state in the overnight hours, and no resulting injuries or deaths have been reported, according to the National Weather Service.
In Camden, a southern Arkansas city with a population of about 12,000, more than a dozen homes and a high school suffered damage from the severe thunderstorms that struck the area. Strong winds ripped portions of the Camden Fairview High School’s roof and walls around midnight, according to the city’s Police Chief Boyd Woody. The Camden Fairview School District is closed Friday.
“Strong winds took off part of the roof of the Camden Fairview High School, and there’s going to be water damage inside,” Woody said. “Most of the damage was out toward the gym.”
Woody said the storms hit primarily in the city’s south area, the town’s residential center.
“There has been several residential dwellings that have been damaged,” he said. “We haven’t had any reports of any physical injuries. It’s all property. Most of the damage was caused by winds blowing trees on top of the houses.”
Entergy crews are in Camden to restore power in the city, but Woody said the workers do not know when electricity will be switched back on.
Woody said Camden’s Fire Department and public works division were trying to clear debris caused by the storms. He added that he has called and asked for the Arkansas National Guard for help as well.
Hail the size of tennis balls were reported in the northern Arkansas counties of Baxter and Izard, while in southern Arkansas, trees and power lines were downed. Two homes were damaged in Murfreesboro and tree landed onto a car in Hot Springs, the weather service said.
Entergy Arkansas said Friday it had restored power to about 65 percent of its customers who lost electricity. Outages had affected more than 51,000 customers at its peak.
It will likely take two to three days before power is restored to all its customers, but the company said many will see their electricity back on between Friday and Saturday.
“I have been here since 6 o’clock yesterday morning,” Woody said. “It’s been a long 30 hours.”
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