High winds hit Perry, Mo., major damage throughout the town

PERRY, MO – Perry, a town of about 700 residents in southern Ralls County, was hit by high winds Friday night as a result of storms that passed through the region.

Residents are assessing the damage and, so far, there have been no reports of casualties.

According to Meteorologist Ben Herzog of the National Weather Service in St. Louis, they will be assessing the damage this weekend to determine whether it was a tornado or straight line winds that officially hit the town.

“Once we can evaluate whether the damage is in more of a straight line or it is twisted, and we talk to some residents, we will know more,” Herzog said.

Witnesses throughout the community talked about a wind that “sounded like a freight train” going through town.

The area around Perry was also hit. Blackjack Marina on Mark Twain Lake, which is about 7 miles from Perry, had damage to boats and to the dock coverings.

Photo credits to Facebook, Sharon Gough and Dustin Wasson/South Lake Designs