Damage reports continue to come in for Greene County.

Greene County Emergency Management Coordinator Dennis Morlan tells Raccoon Valley Radio there is an estimated $10-15 million worth of damage so far across the county. Greene County Supervisor Chair John Muir says at least one-third of the crop fields in the county have been destroyed. Muir advises residents that live near a downed powerline on their property to not approach it. 

“I wouldn’t go anywhere near it. More than likely if your power isn’t on that line isn’t going to do anything to help you out, and the danger involved with those is just frightening. We don’t want an injury to anybody when we didn’t have any right during the storm.”

Morlan urges residents to purchase a weather radio or have a weather app on their cell phone that warns them for the next time  a storm threatens Greene County. He explains the severe weather sirens are meant for individuals who are outside and may not be able to be heard inside a building. Morlan is also requesting the state to add Greene County to the governor’s disaster proclamation that includes Dallas County.   

Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse says officers responded to several down power line incidents Monday afternoon but there were no vehicle crashes as a result from the storm. He says there was lots of property damage including at Cobblestone Inn and Suites, Super 8 Hotel, Holiday RV, storage facilities at Tri-County Lumber and a couple of semis that had blown over. Clouse notes the incredible effort he saw from neighbors and other community members that helped each other clear debris following the storm.

Morlan expresses his appreciation to public safety, public works and road crews that pitched in and helped when needed. He adds that while material things can be replaced, he’s grateful no one was killed because “you can’t replace a human life.”