160 homes significantly damaged during severe Paragould storm
Mar 15, 2025
PARAGOULD, Ark. -- Storms and tornadoes have wreaked havoc across the Mid-South, where at least three weather-related deaths have been reported in Arkansas.
Also, in Arkansas, it's unknown whether a tornado or straight line wind caused significant damage in Paragould, 85 miles northwest of Memphi
s.
"Luckily, we had property damage only," said Paragould Mayor Josh Agee. "The Good Lord was watching over the City of Paragould last night. We had three or four minor injuries but nothing major."
Mayor Agee said that now, the community is focusing on getting back on its feet.
Damage following Paragould, AR storm.Damage following Paragould, AR storm.
"I don't wish this on anybody," resident Rick Mitchell said.
Mitchell is picking up the pieces in her neighborhood where trees were uprooted and some homes are missing roofs.
Mitchell said he and his family acted quickly when the storm began.
"We heard the wind coming and wind just picked up all of a sudden," Mitchell said. "We said, 'We better get going,' and got in our safe room."
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Remarkably, Saturday morning's storm took the same path as an F1 tornado on Memorial Day 2024.
Another resident, Amber Butler, had her home spared then but not on Saturday.
"Doors were banging, so we heard that," Butler said. "Other than that, we were just running through and I'm not sure I heard anything besides that. But, it wasn't the typical real loud tornado sound or anything like that - just the hail and the rain and the wind was blowing so hard."
Saturday's storm skipped across Paragould, leaving more destruction and causing more than one headache for another resident.
"Luckily, I just have some windows down, some siding gone," Amber Scott said. "The car I just bought, I got some windows gone in it. But, my neighbors, they got buildings missing, roofs missing and trees down."
While more than 160 homes reportedly have either significant or major damage, there are a number of businesses in Paragould's downtown area that have taken a big hit from the storm.
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One of those businesses is Prarie Farms Dairy.
"Well, it tore our building up, as you can see," said Branch Manager Brian Sessums. "It messed up some of our trucks. It tore some of the roof off the building."
Regardless, Sessums said he plans to have the business back up and running on Monday.
A "can do" attitude shared by Amber Butler.
"I feel like everything can be fixed and everyone's okay," Butler said. "So, all in all, it's a good day. It's just a new project to take on."
Mayor Agee told WREG that he's waiting for a team from the National Weather Service to survey the damage and determine if a tornado or straight line wind is to blame.
He also said power is expected to be fully restored before or by dark to 5,700 utility customers who lost power in the storm. ...read more read less