General Manager Kelly Hale said that over 250 homes were impacted by the Thursday, March 14 tornado. This does not include the thousands of homes with minor damage. The tornado followed a seven-mile stretch, downing thousands of trees on common property and POA and privately-owned vacant lots. All of this destruction needs to be addressed and cleaned up. The downed trees on roadways and in utility easements are of great concern. Hale said easements needed to be cleared to allow access by POA-owned utilities and outside utility companies.
Hale said he was at the Woodlands Auditorium with around 600 POA members when the tornado touched down at 8:20 p.m. Additional community activities were also taking place.
Hale stated, “Chief of Police Kristi Bennett noticed debris showing up on the radar. We had no confirmation from any of the agencies that there was a tornado [indecipherable] on the back end of the cell. This was really our team noticing the debris field that was popping up on the radar they were monitoring. With that, we dispatched people and immediately started taking cover, which is when it hit. This tornado caused damage all the way to Highway 7.”
“Pictures alone do not show the sheer devastation of what our crews faced, along with our emergency responders and members.”
Hale requested residents stay off the trails and vacant areas of destruction. The POA is trying to reach these areas for cleanup. The fallen trees can be “widow makers. “We are well aware of what needs to be done, so please don’t call and tell us where to go. We will make sure things are done in order of priority.”
Due to staff being stretched thin now, Hale asks villagers not to bring petty problems to the POA. There is already enough on their plates.
In the two years that Hale has been in the GM seat, he has built relationships with cities, counties, the state, and anyone else he could.
Hale listed agencies and entities assisting with emergency response to the EF-2 tornado.
- Judge Mahoney – Garland County – He was with Hale from Friday morning to Saturday night and helped set up the command post.
- Judge Brumley – Saline County – He was with Hale from Friday morning to Saturday night and helped set up the command post.
- Mayor Pat McCabe – Hot Springs – He supplied Hot Springs resources.
- Bill Burrow – Hot Springs City Manager – He sent road crews.
- Huey Applegate – Tree Service – The long-time vendor was the first on the scene on Thursday night.
- Richard McGrew – State Representative – McGrew is a retired Master Electrician who wired up a generator at Cortez Fire Station to provide emergency power at the command center.
- Matt McKee – State Senator – Immediately responded and offered help.
- Lanny Fife – State Representative – Immediately responded and offered help.
- Les Warren – State Representative – Immediately responded and offered help.
- Martha and French Hill – US Congressman
- Tom Cotton – US Senator
- John Boozman – US Senator
- Bruce Westerman – US Representative
- Garland County OEM
- Saline County OEM
- Arkansas Homeland Security and Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
- Garland County Road Department
- Hot Springs Road Department
- Arkansas State Police – helped secure areas.
- Arkansas Department of Corrections – 42 low-risk criminals were dispatched under armed guard to help clear trees and reach residents.
- Saline County Department of Emergency Management
- Saline County Sheriff’s Office
- Garland County Department of Emergency Management
- Garland County Sheriff’s Office
- Arkansas State Department of Forestry
- Arkansas State Game and Fish
- Arkansas USAR Task Force-1
- Conway Fire / Rescue
- Polaski County Fire and Rescue
- Jessieville Fire Department
- Paron Fire Department
- Benton Fire Department
- Bryant Fire Department
- LifeNet EMS
- Pafford EMS
- The Salvation Army – set up a food kitchen to supply food to responders, staff, and impacted members.
- Red Cross – helping members with assessing damage.
- Home Depot – donating tarps, buckets, gloves, and other items.
- Convoy of Hope
- Communities of Jessieville, Mountain Pine, and Fountain Lake.
- Our countless volunteers in the Village helped and brought food to the workers.
- Various other church groups in and outside the Village
- Additional agencies that arrived to help or work on 03/15/2024 and/or 03/16/2024:
- Ameri Corp volunteers
- BWS – Gas Inspectors / Crew
- McCizer Pipeline
- National Weather Service
- Lake Ouachita State Park
- Dennis Simpson provided drone footage for FEMA
- Everyone else that helped
Pastor Denny and Balboa Baptist Church set up a shelter for tornado victims, providing food, water, and coffee. They also provided a place for the Red Cross to help residents file claims.
First Assembly of God – Pastor G assisted with meals, water, supplies, and other help. They also provided a place for tornado victims to procure donated supplies.
Pastor Dennis from Coronado Baptist provided support for POA Staff.
NorthStar Implementation Continues
On another note, Hale said that the implementation of NorthStar continues, and they are working through typical platform change issues. He added, “You must pull through all data and ensure it is correct.”
Eclipse
Hale expressed, “We are looking forward to our upcoming Eclipse. We have communicated about all events. Be safe and be somewhere you can stay in one place. Don’t be a statistic.”
Featured Image: (Left to Right) David Moore, Corporate Treasurer; Mark Quinton, Board Director; Kelly Hale, General Manager; Mindy Maxwell, Executive Assistant to the General Manager
By Cheryl Dowden
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