Hurricane Ike downs trees, powerlines -- no injuries

Walk on the wire side -- A group of fearless youths navigate a web of downed trees and power lines at the top of Pivot Rock Road. The Pivot Rock area was hit hard and many lost power. Pivot Rock Village resident manager Jim Little had five trees land on his house. One entered his second story bedroom window only six feet from his bed, and another punched its way through his roof into a storage closet. Photo by Chip Ford [Order this photo]

EUREKA SPRINGS -- The last vestiges of Hurricane Ike blew through town early Sunday morning, toppling trees, downing power lines and wreaking havoc all over the area.

The center of the storm passed through Carroll County between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Local estimates ranged between five and seven inches of rain fall overnight.

Drake Field in Fayetteville reported 4.4 inches, but the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport at Highfill officially reported only just over one inch.

The Kings River at Berryville rose from 3.79 ft. to 19.38 ft. Monday, but had gone back down to 9.65 ft. Tuesday.

Most damage was caused by the up-to-48 mph winds, and power outages were reported on Pivot Rock Rd., throughout the Historic District, in sections of East Mountain, upper Spring St., north of Eureka Springs on Hwy. 23 and elsewhere.

Residential damage widespread

The two remaining trees in front of the 1904 Fuller House on upper Spring Street fell during the storm, crossing and hitting the porch.

John Fuller Cross' mother, Ruth Fuller Cross, age 99, was asleep at the time.

"She slept through the whole thing," John Cross said.

The extent of the damage to the Fuller House is not yet known.

Kathryn Semolic and Robin Cook of 5 Hayes Ave. reported the roots of a huge pine tree flipped their car on its side when it fell in their yard and across the street. An oak also toppled but was stopped when it hit another tree. A third tree threatened the house, but tree service crews tethered it to another tree until it can be taken down.

Pivot Rock Village resident manager Jim Little said pine trees crashed into his building, and limbs penetrated the ceiling only a few feet from his bed.

Similar damage occurred throughout the city.

Mayor, city depts. on the ball

The office of Mayor Dani Joy said all involved city departments had continuously monitored Hurricane Ike as it hit the Texas coast and turned northeast.

On Thursday the departments developed a loose plan of response to the expected storm and by Friday, the plans were finalized.

Public Works, Fire and Police departments, along with volunteers with the fire department and police reserves, remained on duty throughout the storm following up calls.

"Our city employees are to be commended for their dedication and perseverance to keeping Eureka Springs safe," said Joy, who is honeymooning in Puerto Vallarta and tracked the storm by phone. "We at the city are relieved and feel blessed in that nobody was injured and there was no loss of life."

Sewer plant fine

"The sewer treatment plant was without power until noon Sunday, and we were concerned about that, but there was no overflow with the lift stations," said Public Works Director Dwayne Allen. "There's plenty to clean up, trees down and washouts, but I don't think anybody got hurt. Overall, it could've been worse."

Public Works spent much of Monday and Tuesday clearing debris from streets. The limbs were taken to the city's compost facility and chipped for compost.

Police and Fire departments reported a "busy weekend" answering calls about downed trees and power lines but no deaths or injuries.

The Carroll County Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT) was unable to locate any signs of a vehicle reportedly washed into Leatherwood Creek near Elk Ranch in the early hours Sunday, finally calling off the search Sunday afternoon.

At press time no missing person reports had been filed.

Carroll County Judge E. Richard Williams said most damage across the county also consisted of fallen trees and downed power lines, but one bridge was washed out on county road 933, off Hwy. 103S off Hwy. 412E.

Williams said the bridge would take at least a month to replace, forcing those living past the bridge to travel a long and circuitous route to reach Berryville or Eureka Springs, but that the county was looking for a temporary bridge to put in place until the bridge is rebuilt.

50,000 accounts without power

Carroll Electric Cooperative reported 50,000 accounts without power originally but had reduced the number to 9,000 by Monday afternoon and expected to have power restored by Wednesday at latest.