FOX 2

Cleanup begins after scattered storm damage in the Metro East

BETHALTO, Ill. – There is a lot of storm damage in the St. Louis area after high winds and strong storms swept through the area Friday. The Metro East appears to have some of the most damage.

One mobile home park in Bethalto, Illinois, was hit hard by Friday’s storm system. High winds caused significant damage to many mobile homes.

Also in the Metro East, viewers have informed FOX 2 about downed trees in Fairview Heights, damaged farm structures in Moro Township and hail pelting cars in Belleville.

On Saturday morning, downed trees and debris littered the streets at Kickapoo Village mobile home park. WInds were so strong, even some RVS were moved off their jacks.

“We heard a large crash, I went to come out of my home and the roof from the neighbor’s home was sitting in my front yard,” said Michael Runyon, Kickapoo Village Manager.

Runyon spent the first part of his Saturday morning walking through the park, taking pictures and assessing the damage to the 90 units. He noticed substantial damage.

“We’ve had roofs taken, partial roofs taken off of three homes. We have multiple downed trees, damaged vehicles. It pretty much took skirting off of every unit here,” said Runyon. 

Thankfully, no one was injured. Runyon said management sent out a notice earlier on Friday to let them know that there was a weather warning. 

“After the storm came through, EMS and fire crews and everybody came out. And anybody that felt unsafe or had a home that was uninhabitable, they took them with the Red Cross, and they got them housing for overnight,” said Runyon.

The St. Louis metropolitan area was under a tornado watch for several hours Friday. The weather brought many forms of severe weather to the area, including tornado and thunderstorm threats, heavy winds, hail and some rain.

The St. Louis metropolitan area remained under a tornado watch until it expired at 10 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Tornado warnings had been issued for Franklin, Crawford and Washington counties in Missouri and Greene County in Illinois.