A tornado reported to have been half a mile wide and to have winds that reached 155 miles per hour according to the National Weather Service report, hit both Carroll and Montgomery counties on Fri., March 24 around 9:20 p.m. Reports of damage and extreme weather continued throughout the night and into the morning of March 25.
There were three fatalities and multiple injuries reported in Carroll County, according to Coroner Mark Stiles.
In a perfect concoction of fair temperatures, high humidity and high winds, the tornado weather began in Louisiana, according to reports, and made its way across the Mississippi River around 7:40 p.m., and into the Mississippi Delta. The tornado hit the towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City from 8:08 p.m. to around 9 p.m., according to reports, before it headed north in the direction of Winona.
The tornado caused considerable damage to property as it swept through the communities of Black Hawk and Summerfield at around 9:12 p.m., according to the National Weather Service, which stated in a detailed report summary on Monday that “this long track tornado began just southwest of Black Hawk in a wooded area with widespread tree damage, including snapped and uprooted trees. Satellite imagery indicates major tree damage of EF2 intensity. It continued northeast before crossing Highway 430, CR 235, and Highway 17. In this area, numerous residential structures were damaged, including two homes that were destroyed, with both losing outer walls and another with collapsed brick on the exterior with the interior slab exposed. Large farming equipment was also blown over on the side. No injuries were reported in this area. The tornado was strongest just northeast of here at EF3 intensity, around 155mph, where Black Hawk Independent Church, Historic Blackhawk School and parsonage were completely destroyed. Both the school and church had stood for nearly 100 years. The church steeple was gone with the bell thrown out and not seen by the survey team. The slab to the church remained intact with a few exterior walls standing. A nearby well building made of cinder block masonry stood mostly untouched outside of minor damage to the roof and doorway.”
It then passed through Vaiden and Winona shortly after, and began heading Northeast to Amory.
Carroll County Board of Supervisors President Jim Neill said in a board meeting on Monday morning that the board first began getting reports of damage and injury around 9:20 p.m.
“We lost three people, and it’s a devastating event for our county. Clint Walker and the Sheriff’s department did an outstanding job,” said Neill, “He was pretty much what I call an instant commander. They did an excellent job all throughout the weekend. All board supervisors had their equipment [in place], and Ken Strachan worked around the clock. We had multiple fire departments, pretty much all of our volunteers have their hands in” the emergency response.
“We were fortunate” said Neill, saying that compared to Rolling Fork, Carroll County had few fatalities. “We had hundreds and hundreds of people working in Black Hawk and Summerfield,” he said.
“People are still working. Multiple people have made all kinds of donations–cooking, bringing water, bringing food, chainsaws and skid steers,” said Neill, and he also said in all of the clean up and construction, clearing of roads and assistance that no one was injured.
He thanked people from Neshoba, Yalobusha, Leflore, Montgomery, Holmes, and Madison County for all reaching out to offer assistance.
