Residents of Monroe County and surrounding areas were on high alert as an ominous storm cell moved through the area early Saturday evening, prompting a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service and many people heading for their basements.

Monroe County Emergency Management Agency storm watchers monitored the situation as it rolled east across from Missouri at about 6:30 p.m. Among the scariest events was a rotational cloud reported in the sky above Hecker.

NWS officials confirmed Sunday that an EF1 tornado moved from southwest of Maeystown northeast to Hecker from 6:34 to 6:59 p.m., measuring 19.5 miles in length and 100 yards in maximum width. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Later on Sunday, NWS officials also said an EF0 tornado touched down southwest of Valmeyer as the storm rolled in. That small tornado measured five miles in length with a maximum width of 150 yards and happened just after a short EF1 tornado touched down across the river in Pevely, Mo.

Yet another very small tornado, classified as EFU, or unknown, was tracked in Columbia per the NWS. This was added to the record based on video captured outside of Sunset Overlook near Bluff Road.

While several communities in the county received their fair share of damage, Hecker was seemingly hit the hardest.

Hecker Village President Charlie Kujawski said some of the biggest trouble in the community came from the telephone poles and power lines getting knocked down, blocking some roads into town – though responders were able to address the situation a few hours after the storm passed.

Kujawski noted that the power outage throughout his community might have ultimately been a good thing as it managed to make the downed power lines far less hazardous.

His initial assessment as reported Monday was that four Hecker houses received significant damage, with one having the roof of a metal shed in its front yard.

One home in Hecker had an entire wall ripped of the side wall of an attached garage.

EMA and fire officials assessing the storm’s aftermath reported multiple power poles and lines down along Route 159 near the Dollar General in Hecker and also just north of Hecker, plus several small outbuildings damaged or destroyed in and near Hecker. 

One EMA official surveying damage in Hecker estimated there seemed to be “more poles down than not” in and near the village Saturday night.

A tree fell on a car on North Orchard Lane in Hecker, and the stop sign at the main Hecker intersection of Main and Monroe streets (Route 159 at Route 156) was blown down. 

A carport was destroyed and roof damaged by winds in the 300 block of East Back Street in Hecker.

There was visible roof damage to at least one residence in the 100 block of East Washington Street near Hecker Community Center, where a wedding reception was taking place during the storm. 

Read more on that unique celebration by clicking here. 

Kujawski also reported less than a dozen houses had moderate damage to the home or outbuildings.

He said was pleased to note the lack of any injuries caused by the storm, and he was also thankful for the assistance from Smithton, Waterloo, Red Bud and Monroe County agencies for their assistance either during the storm or in the aftermath.

Kujawski also noted the American Red Cross reached out to make sure none of the homes damaged in the storms needed assistance.

As the community recovers and cleans up, Kujawski said the village welcomes residents to make use of a dumpster set up in the Hecker Community Center parking lot for any random debris they might have to deal with in the wake of the storm.

He also said Hecker residents can bring any limbs up to six inches in diameter to the curb for the village to clean up with a wood chipper.

The first local damage reports of heavy winds, rain and hail – per scanner traffic Saturday evening – came from the Valmeyer area, with a tree down on a house in Old Valmeyer and other downed trees across Valmeyer roadways. Campers were also overturned at Moredock Lake.

There were other reports of trees down on or near roadways in Burksville, Maeystown and Hecker – in addition to many areas in between.

There were similar reports of small structures damaged in the Maeystown area. There were also power lines downed in the Burksville area.

A small shed was also blown down and damaged next to a propane tank on KK Road, with officials reporting all was safe with that situation.

Emergency officials also responded to a report of a car crashing into a downed tree on LL Road during the storm.

A shed reportedly collapsed onto vehicles at a residence near the park in Maeystown. Another shed was damaged on Bushy Prairie Road near Maeystown, with a large tree downed and power lines across a vehicle.

Maeystown Road was closed to traffic from Fisher Road to KK Road on Saturday due to a downed power pole with lines on or just above the roadway. The 5700 block of Deer Hill Road was also closed due to a downed tree.

Camp Wartburg on LRC Road south of Waterloo also reported damage.

The Columbia Fire Department responded to the area of the airport on Bluff Road for a downed utility pole.

All of this damage was assessed and dealt with in darkness and with rain falling Saturday night.

Clifftop reported major damage at White Rock Nature Preserve near Valmeyer, with hundreds of trees either downed or damaged. The trails there will be closed until Clifftop can get an expert sawyer to bring down some dangerous trees with branches hanging precariously over the trails.

Monroe County Public Safety Director Kevin Scheibe offered his thoughts on the tornadoes’ impact and the county’s response to the storms.

He noted the storms – which he said were some of the worst Monroe County has seen in the last eight years – were uniquely impactful due to their reach. The tornadoes didn’t just impact one community, instead sweeping across the county to deal varying levels of damage to multiple villages and towns.

The county’s various first responder agencies, however, were able to deal with the aftermath of the storms with great efficiency, according to Scheibe.

The response began with communication between Monroe County EMA and the National Weather Service, which warned of inclement weather on Friday.

Updates came throughout Saturday, and an alert from the NWS nearly an hour before the official warning allowed emergency services to activate and prepare for the impending tornadoes.

Scheibe specifically noted the agency was able to get a warning to Valmeyer in advance of five to six minutes.

Scheibe expressed his gratitude toward all the first responder agencies throughout the county.

He commended them for the tremendous amount of cooperation that took place between the departments coupled with the generosity of individuals, many of whom are either volunteers or offered their help despite being off the clock.

“Response from Monroe County was overwhelming and very proud,” Scheibe said. “Every single first responding agency was readily available. We were all very aggressive, and every department mutual-aided and helped neighboring agencies when needed.”

Scheibe said Monroe County is currently in the process of recovering from the storms, with – to his knowledge – power having been restored to everyone who lost it.

Monroe County Electric Co-op President/CEO Alan Wattles was on hand during Monday’s meeting of the Monroe County Board. He reported that most MCEC customers who experienced power outages due to the storm were without service for about three hours.

He also said outages required re-routing of transmission from MCEC’s substations in Smithton and Freeburg.

Wattles credited the company’s pole replacement program for the quick return to service. He reported only eight utility poles serviced by MCEC were affected. 

“It costs a little more, but it is worth it,” Wattles said of the program, adding electricity infrastructure in Hecker is maintained by Ameren Illinois.

Scheibe also pointed out the NWS and Illinois Emergency Management Agency have been in touch to get an understanding of the damage around the county.

Amid the recovery process, Scheibe requested that those who suffered property damage share the scope of the damage with the Monroe County EMA Office to assist with the damage assessment for the IEMA.

Those who suffered damage to structures on their property or encountered loss due to the power being out can contact Scheibe at kscheibe@monroecountyil.gov with pictures and information or call 618-939-8681, ext. 534.