Rice County Commissioners Schedule Special Meeting

The Rice County Board of Commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, April 19, 2022 to consider passage of a resolution declaring declaring a State of Emergency.

Resolution #22-029 says;

Whereas, the Severe Storms Event impacted the population of Rice County and it's cities; and

Whereas, the Severe Storms Event has caused a significant amount of public property damage; and

Whereas, the Rice County Department of Emergency Management requests the Rice County Board of Commissioners to declare Rice County in a STATE OF EMERGENCY for the Severe Storms Event beginning April 12, 2022;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rice County Board of Commissioners declares Rice Countyin a State of Emergency for conditions resulting from the Severe Storms Event of April 12, 2022; and do furter direct the agencies of the state, in cooperation with appropriate federal agencies , to provide such aid as necessary under existing state and federal statutory authority.

This order shall be effective immediately and until such time that the emergency status no longer requires emergency response.

Damage has evidently been more than originally believed with multiple public utility poles down.  As evidenced by the picture above of the poles down along Rice CR 23.

The road had to be closed for some time to replace the poles.

We have also received a photo of what appears to be a funnel cloud behind a crumpled semi blown off I-35 in south Rice County taken during severe weather on Tuesday.

Here is another picture.

Another look is provided here.

Some useful information for you.