Storm devastates Perry County Missouri: Community unites for recovery as schools and homes face extensive damage

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – Storms that ravaged Perry County on Friday left behind significant damage, destroying homes, disrupting the Perry County School District #32, and challenging local leaders as they plan for recovery.

Perryville Mayor Larry Rhiney, Superintendent, Dr. Fara Jones, and Perry County Presiding Commissioner Mike Sauer are all focused on two key concerns: rebuilding the community and being thankful that no one was injured.

“Our priority right now is what comes next,” Rhiney said. “We’re fortunate no lives were lost, and now we just have to focus on cleaning up and moving forward.”

Homes were torn apart by the storm. Roofs were found on top of vehicles, debris was tangled in trees, and buildings, including a school that has stood since the 1930s, were left severely damaged.

Perry County Presiding Commissioner Mike Sauer, who has handled numerous natural disasters over the years, said this storm is the worst the town of Perryville has experienced since 2017.

“Some homes just need minor repairs, like replacing shingles. Other homes will require more extensive work, and some may need to be torn down and rebuilt,” Sauer explained.

While many residents have begun cleaning up the debris, some have had to evacuate the area. The counties of Cape Girardeau and Saint Genevieve offered help immediately after the storm, offering support for the cleanup efforts.

The Perryville 32 School District is facing severe damage. Superintendent Fara Jones said the storm caused significant harm to nearly all of the district’s buildings, with roofs torn off most of the structures. Jones believes the district will need to rebuild parts of its facilities, and it is unclear how this will affect the remainder of the school year.

“We’re looking at a long recovery ahead. I don’t think there’s a single building here that wasn’t affected,” Dr. Jones said. “It’s hard to predict what the school year will look like for our students, and we may not have classrooms available next year.”

Dr. Jones had already been in contact with emergency management officials before the storm hit and received a late-night call Friday warning of the damage. She said her team has worked tirelessly over the weekend, bringing in construction crews to board up buildings and prevent further damage.

“We’re doing everything we can to ensure no secondary damage occurs,” Dr. Jones said. “We want our students back in the classrooms as soon as possible, and we are working hard to make that happen.”

For Mayor Larry Rhiney, the most important outcome of the storm is that no one was hurt. He praised the community for its quick response, with residents of all ages volunteering to help with the cleanup effort.

“I want to thank all the people who came out to help,” Rhiney said. “They’ve been working alongside the mayor and commissioners, showing what this community is truly made of.”

Perry County officials are working with emergency management teams, construction crews, and the Red Cross to speed up recovery efforts and assist with the cleanup process.

As Perryville and the surrounding areas begin to recover, the focus remains on rebuilding homes, restoring schools, and helping residents return to normalcy. For now, local leaders are keeping their eyes on the future, determined to rebuild stronger than before.