
An Ozark County Community continues to pick-up the pieces after a tornado strikes during a line of storms moving through Friday night.
A preliminary report from the National Weather Service in Springfield indicates that the tornado that hit the town of Bakersfield was an EF-3 with,,. peak winds of 140 mph. According to the report, the tornado started just south of Bakersfield and tracked northeast towards South Fork. The peak
tornado width was 600 yards.
The weather service reports confirms initial reports from Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin that three people died in the storm. Several homes were destroyed with numerous homes damaged. Multiple cars were rolled 50 to 100 yards. Numerous trees were also uprooted according to the NWS Report.
Several media reports add that the FEMA Shelter at Bakersfield School is remaining open to assist with people needing shelter. Superintendent Dr. Amy Padgett tells KTLO that the school buildings were not damaged but the tornado did destroy the school’s baseball and softball complex.
Several other tornados were reported including and EF-3 in Arkansas around Cave City plus back in Missouri, and EF-1 tornados in Oregon County and near Seymour in Webster County. Another tornado, in the Rolla area of central Missouri, is being surveyed today.