The Rain We Wanted Came With A Punch

Storm Damage Across The County

By Debby Stricker and Travis Volz
The answer to prayers for rain to end the drought were answered Friday – with a price.
The thunderstorms high winds blew down sheds, toppled large trees, damaged buildings/ roofs, and knocked out electricity to thousands in Washington County and the St. Libory area. Also, houses were damaged when large trees fell on them. Numerous roads were blocked because of downed trees.
Every town in the county was affected on some level, according to EMA Public information director Alex Haglund. County dispatch received total of 159 calls reporting damage in the two days following the storm. The most extensive damaged was along Route 15, he said.
The most poignant damage was to St. John’s United Church of Christ at Johannisburg. The steeple fell into the roof, but the roof did not collapse into the interior.
St. John’s Church was built in 1865 because the congregation founded in 1837 had outgrown its log church. Now, the dwindling congregation- with only about 10 at a typical Sunday service – is faced with the dilemma of how to move forward.
The Prairie State Training Center (former Johannisburg School) on County Highway 12 had significant roof damage.
The Jim Lehde Auction building in Addieville was substantially damaged because the roof on the rear section caved to the inside of the building.
A grain leg at the Top Ag Elevator at St. Libory was destroyed. Gateway FS at Venedy had damaged to its distributor, 1 overhead drag and a collapsed 50,000 bushel bin.
Electricity outages line up with the storm’s path, said Haglund. Ameren reported that of the 3,200 initial outages, 500 were in Ashley, 300 in Okawville, 150 in Hoyleton and the remainder in Nashville, as well as outages in St. Libory…

Read more in the July 5 issue.