GALATIA (SALINE CO.)—Tuesday evening’s (01.29.13) storm left approximately four blocks of Galatia in ruins just one month shy of last year’s Leap-Day Tornado that devastated portions of Harrisburg.
Galatia Mayor David Harrawood said the storm hit Galatia at approximately 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, traveling southwest from Bobbi Jo’s restaurant towards ROC One Stop, a block wide and approximately one block off Main Street, directly behind the ROC station.
Warning sirens were sounded about 10-15 minutes before the storm hit Galatia, according to Harrawood.
The majority of the damage is from Park Street to Smith Street.
Rocky Top, a mobile trailer park close to the area, also sustained a lot of damage.
A barn is believed to be destroyed and the city’s barn took heavy damage. Lots of road signs are uprooted (concrete and all) and trees are down throughout the rest of the town.
Power was out for close to two hours in all of Galatia. According to an Ameren worker, there are six power poles and some transformers down on Park Street. More Ameren workers arrived on scene approximately 2:45 a.m from repairing minor tree and limb damage in Eldorado. Crews worked desperately to get a back up generator and power back up to help assist the damage. Ameren say it maybe tomorrow afternoon before power is back on in the worst hit areas.
So far, two injures are known; one younger man and one elderly man, whose roof collapsed. An elderly woman is also believed to have suffered head trama and taken to the hospital.
Mayor Harrawood says they really can’t tell the exact extent of damage until sunrise.
Mayor Harrawood, who lives at the south end of town, said he didn’t hear anything unusual when the storm hit besides heavy rain and wind. He first knew of the damage when he noticed balls of fire and power lines arcing towards town, this through his window. He thought some place was on fire and has been on scene ever since last night.
State, county, and local police are on scene and assisting Ameren workers.
More later this morning, when we have it.