Hall House Heavily Damaged In Friday Night Storm

Huddling in a crawl space just moments before a possible tornado ripped through the bottoms in rural Fountain proved to be the right decision for Jim and Linda Hall. Their home along Merrimac Road was heavily damaged around 9 p.m. last night as a severe storm swept through the St. Louis Metropolitan area. A suspected tornado tore off the third floor and roof of the Hall home. Since they do not have a basement, Jim and Linda, along with a nephew hunkered down in a concrete crawl space at the lower level of the home. Hall said for about five minutes they heard a loud roar, felt the air pressure build and release before things quieted down. When the took a walk around inside and outside of their home they realized the extent of the damage. The Halls told Valmeyer and Columbia firefighters, who arrived on the scene, they felt lucky to be alive and that no one in the surrounding area was injured.

There were also numerous reports along Merrimac, B and Taake Roads of damage to homes and sheds, power outages and trees uprooted. But there were no reports of injuries in Monroe County.

The top floor and roof of the Hall home in rural Fountain was heavily damaged in Friday night’s storm.         – photo by Ericha Sondag

 

A tree was ripped to shreds at the Hall home in rural Fountain.         – photo by Ericha Sondag

 

Folks participating Friday night in a benefit trivia night at Valmeyer’s St. John UCC Hall rode the storm out. When the village tornado sirens went off, most people remained calm while others gathered in the bathrooms and other secure areas of the facility. Everyone used their cell phones to call home to check on weather reports and the condition of their loved ones and property. The trivia event was halted for about an hour before resuming. Proceeds from the fundraiser went to the Valmeyer Renegades girls’ softball team.

 

Friday Sports Wrap-Up: In the Columbia’s softball team beat Quincy – Notre Dame 10-2 improving their record to 19-5. The Lady Eagles continue play in the Quincy Tournament today (weather permitting) with scheduled games against Payson Seymour and Liberty High Schools. The Waterloo High School baseball team (12-7) hosted Centralia Friday afternoon and lost 11-5. The Columbia versus Gibault baseball game was played at the Gateway Grizzlies Park, but the game was called after four innings because of the storm. Valmeyer’s baseball team traveled to Red Bud and lost 10-1, dropping the Pirates’ record to 9-10. The Musketeers improved to 12-9.