Possible Tornado Causes Damage in Perryville, Closes School Campus

Perryville, Mo. (KFMO) - A suspected tornado caused significant damage to multiple buildings in the Perry County School District and left several roads closed in Perryville late Friday night.

According to the Perryville Police Department, the storm entered the city around 11:41 p.m. on March 14, striking the Perry County School District #32 campus before moving through the city park, crossing U.S. Highway 61, and continuing into the county before crossing the Mississippi River.

Authorities report that multiple school buildings sustained damage, including a collapsed wall on the west side of the high school. Due to the extent of the destruction and debris, the school district has closed the entire campus to all traffic, including pedestrians, as officials assess the situation.

The district plans to provide more updates on Saturday regarding the extent of the damage and any potential disruptions to classes.

Perry County Sheriff Jason Klaus noted in a news release that, despite the widespread debris field stretching from Highway B to the river bottoms, no injuries have been reported at this time.

Local law enforcement urges residents to use caution when traveling in the affected areas and avoid sightseeing in damaged zones. Emergency responders and city officials continue to evaluate the storm’s impact.