Radio amateurs aid in tornado response

After severe weather rumbled through the Missouri Bootheel October 18, radio amateurs from three states rushed to help however they could.

More than 60 possible tornadoes were reported to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Memphis, Tennessee.

Pemiscot County Emergency Coordinator Loyd Avis, KC0MWU, reports three people died near the small community of Cooter, when a tornado destroyed their homes. Dunklin County also suffered storm damage, while hail and high winds were reported elsewhere.

A tornado touched down in extreme southeastern Missouri then jumped the Mississippi River into Dyer County, Tennessee, causing considerable damage there.

Throughout the storm period, Missouri District E Emergency Coordinator Larry Anthony, WB0VAM, supplied information on hail, damage to homes and power outages to public service operators in the Missouri Bootheel and in northeastern Arkansas as well as to local broadcasters.

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

Other recent stories..