JOPLIN, MO — Severe weather that moved through the four-state area from Saturday night into Sunday left more than 30,000 customers without electricity and caused damage across southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma. The storms brought flooding, strong winds and tornado warnings, prompting emergency officials to urge people to stay inside and avoid flooded roads. Reports from the region described trees and power lines down in several communities, along with localized structural damage. In Joplin, a large tree fell into a home, leaving it unsafe to live in.
Flooded roads close travel
Flooding created major problems for drivers in southeast Kansas, where several communities reported roads under water. Crawford County Fire District No. 1 warned residents to remain at home and stay out of floodwaters as conditions worsened. Officials said the safest response was to avoid travel until water levels dropped and roads could be checked. The warnings came as storms continued to create hazards across the region, adding to the number of outages and damage reports already coming in from across the three states.
Utility crews face hazards
Local police and fire officials also asked residents to be patient as power crews worked to restore service in difficult weather. The Galena Police Department said utility workers were dealing with lightning, wind and rain while trying to repair damaged lines as quickly and safely as possible. Officials stressed that downed power lines should be treated as dangerous at all times and reported to the proper authorities. Residents were told never to touch, approach or drive over a line that has fallen because it may still be energized.
Damage spreads through towns
Storm damage was reported in multiple communities across Missouri and Kansas. In the Joplin, Webb City and Duenweg areas, crews found widespread tree and power line damage, while Newton County reported downed trees and lines along Highway J between Diamond and Wentworth. Cherokee County reported trees down across the county, and Allen County saw blocked roads near Mildred and La Harpe. In Woodson and Greenwood counties, Toronto and Yates Center reported numerous downed lines and trees, and a portable building was blown over in Yates Center.
Warnings issued overnight
Other reports came from Montgomery County’s Independence area and from near Humboldt, where trees were also knocked down. In Joplin, a 40-inch tree fell into a home, but no one was injured. The home was left uninhabitable after the impact. Portions of Newton and Jasper counties in Missouri were under tornado warnings during the storm, though no tornado touchdowns had been confirmed. Emergency crews continued assessing damage as the region worked to recover from the night’s severe weather.
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