A severe weather event rattled Jefferson County on Saturday night, as an apparent tornado tracked its way through areas just south of De Soto, trailing destruction in its wake. FOX 2 reported that the De Soto Fire Protection District Chief, Tom Fitzgerald, confirmed 12 structures were significantly damaged, and an estimated 53 properties were along the tornado's path over seven miles.
The severe weather prompted tornado warnings in the region, and photo and video evidence circulating on social media further supported assertions of the tornado's presence; KSDK shared first-hand visuals that illustrated the storm's impact southwest of De Soto where tree damage was mainly observed off Big River Heights Road and despite the tornado's destructive path, it is remarkable, no injuries have been reported.
Big River Heights Road and Wilson Hollow Road were highlighted by Fitzgerald as the most impacted areas, a detail that found echoes in the reports by First Alert 4, who noted these locations bore the brunt of the damage. Among the affected buildings, 12 bore the mark of significant destruction, testifying to the storm's fierce intensity.
Community members in and around De Soto are now assessing the aftermath, an interlude where calm skies belie Saturday's tumult and as Fitzgerald told FOX 2, the mapping data is preliminary and evaluation of the situation remains underway; this includes a detailed summary of the types of structures affected and a clean-up that is sure to be extensive given the scope of the storm's reach.
