A severe hail storm in Springfield, Missouri, has resulted in the death of an emu at the local zoo, injuries to drivers, power outages affecting thousands, and extensive damage to hundreds of vehicles and aircraft.
Details of the Storm
The storm, described as one of the worst in Missouri's history, struck the Springfield area on Tuesday. Hailstones reached up to 4.75 inches (12 centimeters) in diameter, with some resembling the size of softballs. Eric Gockel, who waited out the storm in his car along a highway, described the terrifying experience as glass shards flew everywhere. He expressed relief at emerging unscathed, despite his windshield being shattered.
Impact on the Zoo
At the Dickerson Park Zoo, staff attempted to move animals indoors for safety. However, Adam, a 21-year-old female emu, succumbed to head trauma caused by the hail. Zoo spokesperson Joey Powell explained that emus naturally lie down and take cover during storms, which proved fatal in this case. Another bird, Oscar, a 17-year-old rhea, sustained injuries but was receiving pain medication and recovering well as of Wednesday. The zoo remained closed following the incident.
Damage to Airport and Vehicles
The Springfield-Branson National Airport, located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northwest of the city center, experienced significant damage. Dozens of flights were delayed or canceled, and hundreds of vehicles had their windshields or sunroofs smashed. Airport public information officer Ren Luebbering reported that some passengers had to be bused approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) to Bentonville, Arkansas, due to the unavailability of rental cars. Airport staff spent three hours covering the most severely damaged vehicles with donated tarps, estimating that 300 to 400 tarps were used. The airport issued a warning online: "Expect damage to your vehicle."
Emergency Response
Nicolette Zangara, a spokesperson for the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, noted that early radar indications suggested the hail was growing in size. She received images from neighboring counties showing the extent of the hailstones, confirming the storm's severity. A few people called 911 to report injuries from shattered windshields, though exact numbers were not available. Zangara described the damage to vehicles as widespread, with her own car resembling a golf ball due to dents. She remarked that the last week of April seems "cursed" for the area, as it was also hit by severe storms the previous year.
Personal Accounts
Eric Gockel, who runs a pizza business, has been filing insurance claims since the storm. His house gutters were "blown to smithereens," and a crew is set to inspect his roof. The storm also damaged his food truck, work trucks, and his teenage daughter's first car, which he had purchased for her about a month ago. Gockel admitted that he typically ignores storm warnings and watches from his porch, but this time the event lived up to the warning. "This is the first time that I really feel like the actual event lived up to the warning," he said.
Meteorological Context
Mark Burchfield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield, described the storm as a supercell thunderstorm with significant wind shear and energy, allowing hailstones to remain aloft longer. While the storm was the worst in Springfield's history, it did not break the state record of 6-inch (15.2-centimeter) hail recorded in 2004 near Maryville. Emergency management officials confirmed that this was the most severe hail event ever recorded in Springfield.
