Mayflower residents confront the damage, snags in cleanup

4/28/14
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. THORNTON
Laura Ward cradles her parent's family Bible as she tries to reach her pastor through sporadic cellular phone service outside their  nearly destroyed home along Hwy 365 in Mayflower Monday. Four family members rode out Sunday night's storm in the home with no major injuries.
4/28/14 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. THORNTON Laura Ward cradles her parent's family Bible as she tries to reach her pastor through sporadic cellular phone service outside their nearly destroyed home along Hwy 365 in Mayflower Monday. Four family members rode out Sunday night's storm in the home with no major injuries.

Robert Grubanski looked out of his window Sunday night and realized that the Mayflower home he and his wife had shared for 21 years was facing destruction.

As high winds bent a tree in their front yard like a plastic straw, the 79-year-old turned to his wife, Mary, and said, “It’s here.”

On Monday, surrounded by the sounds of chain saws, hammers and power tools, the Grubanskis and dozens of other Faulkner County residents sifted the ruins of their homes and businesses, many of which were reduced to their foundations by a large and deadly tornado that carved through central Arkansas.

Authorities said Monday that the storm had killed 15 people across the state. Eleven of the victims were in Faulkner County.

The Grubanskis said they took cover in a hallway and began praying as the tornado peeled away their roof, shattered windows and caked their walls with mud and grass. When the noise and the wind stopped, they looked outside. What they saw was “frightening,” said Mary Grubanski, 73.

Down the street on Arkansas 365 near Gandy Lane, several tractor-trailers at Lumber 1 Home Center had overturned and crumpled, spilling some cargo into the street.

Across I-40 on Interstate Drive, vehicles at Mayflower RV and Auto had been twisted into scrap heaps. Next to the RV dealership, the nondenominational Lifeline Church had crumbled, and its walls were all that remained.

And at the Bell Slough State Wildlife Management Area, trees had splintered and been plucked from the earth like toothpicks.

After touring the area Monday morning, Gov. Mike Beebe held a news conference at Mayflower City Hall, where he said the tornado appeared to be “the most powerful one I’ve seen.”

A 7 p.m. curfew was issued for the city, and authorities closed several roads to facilitate search-and-rescue operations.

Mary Grubanski’s daughter, Laura Ward, said officers were hindering some residents’ efforts to clean up their homes and salvage their possessions. Ward’s husband tried to a bring a truck, trailer, power generator and boxes to the Grubanski home, but he was turned back on Arkansas 365 by police officers.

“We’ve been hearing all day that they’re supposed to open it up and let people in, but it just hasn’t happened,” Ward said.

Another resident who spoke at Beebe’s news conference had the same complaint, to which the governor responded by urging officers to “use common sense” when deciding who can pass law enforcement checkpoints.

Mayflower School District Superintendent John Gray said that 20 families stayed at Mayflower Middle School on Sunday night. Monday afternoon, there was no running water or electricity at the school, but it was still operating as a shelter.

Vehicle after vehicle arrived with donated blankets, clothing, food and bottled water. Basic medical treatment also was available.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 04/29/2014

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