Storms wreak havoc in Kennett: Power outages and road closures disrupt overnight travel

Storms at Kennett in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 15, resulted in damage in town and a police presence.

Law enforcement officers closed Independence Avenue to a single lane of traffic headed into town from the north, because of downed power lines that caused signal lights to fail at Independence and the South By-Pass.

Neighborhoods near the center of town were blacked out, and KBPW personnel addressed the issues, restoring power to those affected portions of the city by late Sunday.

The roof of a vacant business on First Street sustained damage from the morning's storms that ripped through the area.

Kennett Police Department officers, Kennett Fire Department personnel, Emergency Management officers, and Dunklin County Sheriff's Office personnel were at the scene of several incidents. They encouraged all civilian storm chasers who descended on the county seat to avoid the areas.

A social media video surfaced of reported tornadic activity on First Street near the shuttered Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center. Storm spotters are seen chasing the whirlwind toward Independence Avenue.

Damage, including downed telephone poles and power lines, was evident at Independence Ave. and First Street, and trees were uprooted at Jones Park.