Bank of Holly Springs

Tornado touches down near Victoria

Trees and power lines are down and some houses and roofs damaged in a tornado that touched down around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Victoria Road area, according to county administrator Larry Hall, who was out assessing the damage soon after the storm hit.

The storm came across Highway 309 near the Watson community taking down trees in the Woods Road area off 309, Hall said. Bennett Circle off St. Paul road was struck, then St. Paul Road, then Mayse Road and Friendship Road.

The railroad was blocked near Skating Rink Road, stopping train traffic, Hall said.

Then the storm went to Mary Lane and Skating Rink Road where a lot of heavy timber was downed.

“There is a lot of damage to trees and a few houses and some roof damage,” he said. “But it looks like it spared a lot of houses.”

Areas where damages occurred included some houses in the Old 78 area near Victoria Hill.

“Timber is down everywhere,” he said.

Hall said the trajectory of the tornado went from the southwest to a northeasterly direction and crossed the Interstate at the Victoria intersection.

Power lines and trees were down on the end of Mary Lane, he said.

Crews with the Holly Springs Utility Department and Northcentral Electric Power Association were out replacing downed poles and power lines, Hall said. Power was interrupted in some areas so power crews and other personnel could safely work.

Also present were nearly all sheriff department and fire department personnel, he said.

Hall said the county used excavator trackhoes and chain saws to clear the roads of trees and debris which were pushed aside and will be removed later.

There will be a lot of tree clean-up near houses, he said. It will take the county several days to get all the debris off the rights-of-way. The roads were clear and safe to travel by mid- to late-afternoon Tuesday, Hall said.

Marshall County Emergency Management Director Hugh Hollowell said there were no injuries he knew of.

Nearly a dozen houses were damaged on early inspection, he said.

“I’m sure there will be more,” he said.

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
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FAX: (662) 252-3388
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