Tornado in Arkansas City Injures 22; Residents Say Stay-at-Home COVID Measures Saved Them from Fatalities

A severe tornado struck Jonesboro, Arkansas on Saturday, 5:00 P.M., injuring 22 people and leaving commercial centers and homes damaged. There were no deaths reported. Among the injured, only two stayed in the hospital for a night but did not have life-threatening injuries, Mayor Harold Perrin said. Residents admit it could have been worse if there were no quarantine measures for the COVID-19 as the tornado ripped through business establishments that were normally packed during weekends.

The National Weather Service declared the Jonesboro Tornado as an EF3 rating, noting the estimated maximum winds were at 140 mph. Jonesboro's Municipal Airport's Hangar was damaged, and the city's commercial district was flattened. Houses in several subdivisions were pulverized. The tornado caused significant damage at the Mall at Turtle Creek and an Anheuser-Busch granary. Cars were thrown aside. A portion of a freight train was damaged.

The Mayor issued a curfew from 9:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. after the tornado as the Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliot urged the residents to stay home as roadways and common areas are being cleared of debris.  

Saved by the COVID-19 self-quarantine measures 

On Sunday morning after the tornado, many residents acknowledged the stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as it inadvertently saved many lives from the tornado. The J.C. Penney and Barnes and Noble stores that are typically filled with shoppers during weekends were closed. Restaurants would have been filled by early diners had it not been closed.

Like the rest of the country, normal routines have been suspended to stop the spread of the virus. Gatherings of more than ten people have been prohibited. Businesses with non-essential services, including restaurants have been closed. Schools are closed and students will be taking online classes instead.

Cooperation and gratefulness in difficult times 

The damage brought by the typhoon, however, makes the COVID-19 safety measures difficult to maintain. For Diane Bizzle, a resident of Jonesboro, the social distancing became over as soon as the tornado passed. Bizzle related that as soon as the tornado passed, all of the neighbors were going out and hugging, checking out if everyone was okay.

A friend helped Curtis Brown, 54, clean up after his fence and pine trees were knocked down, he said they still practiced elbow bumps, stood a distance from people and used hand sanitizers while fixing his fence.

According to Mr. Long, the city councilman, residents were busy picking up debris and clearing yards. Others were carrying ice chests and handing out drinks and snacks, clearly violating social distancing measures. Under these circumstances, it is difficult for residents to practice social distancing, just as managing various emergencies would be for city officials, he said.

"You do what you have to do to meet the need at the moment, and right now, this is what we're doing," he said. 

Mr. Long said houses at a subdivision at Bridgers Place were destroyed. He reported one home where the roof had been shaved off and the wooden beams had been broken. Despite such damage, he was teary-eyed when a saw a "blessed" sign tacked in the wall.