A 21-year-old emu named Adam has died at a Missouri zoo after sustaining fatal head injuries from softball-sized hail that pummelled the city of Springfield during a record-breaking storm. The violent hailstorm, described as the worst in Springfield's history, struck on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction across the area.
Zoo Animals Affected by Severe Weather
Adam, a female emu residing at the Dickerson Park Zoo, suffered fatal injuries during the extreme weather event. Zoo officials explained that the emu's instinct to lie down for cover contributed to the tragedy, as reported by The Associated Press. Another bird, a 17-year-old rhea named Oscar, was also injured but is now recovering and receiving pain medication. Rheas are distant cousins of emus. All other animals at the zoo are safe, and the facility reopened on Thursday after staff completed a cleanup of the "significant damage" caused by the hail.
"Please note: some small birds will be off exhibit until skylights are repaired," the zoo stated in a Facebook post. "There is still much to be done, but please come visit."
Historic Hailstorm Hits Springfield
Emergency management officials confirmed that the hailstorm was the most severe in Springfield's recorded history. Wind gusts reached up to 70 miles per hour, according to the local National Weather Service office. Nicolette Zangara, a spokesperson for the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, told The Associated Press, "You could just tell from what we were seeing on radar that the hail was growing in size. And then we started getting pictures from some of our neighboring counties, some of the hail that they were getting. And from that moment we knew it was going to be a bad storm."
The storm caused widespread disruption beyond the zoo. Dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, according to flight tracker FlightAware. The relentless hail damaged the city library, forced the closure of a Walmart, smashed car windshields, and left 10,000 customers without power. By Thursday, just over 240 customers remained without electricity in the state, as per PowerOutage.US. City officials also reported hail damage to gas meters in a Facebook post.
Public Safety Warnings Issued
Springfield police warned residents to be cautious of door-knockers offering home inspection or repair services. "Before you pay anyone for roof repair, vehicle repair, or tree removal, research the business," the department urged. The storm has now passed, with dry and cold weather forecast through the weekend. Missouri is one of several central states in the region known as "Tornado Alley," which also includes Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Ohio. Tornado activity is expected to increase through early summer.
