Ice Storm in Barton, Missouri

Four inches of sleet pack brought down 52 barns and 6 businesses across Barton County. Because the precipitation type was all sleet, only minor tree and power line damage resulted. Several of the barns that were destroyed were housing expensive farm machinery that also experienced major damage. Total loses for the county was estimated at 4.5 million dollars.

One of the greatest disasters to ever impact southwest Missouri, including the Springfield metro area, occurred in the form of an ice storm. Several counties, mainly along and north of the interstate 44 corridor, experienced ice accumulations up to two and a half inches. Power outages and catastrophic tree damage were the main impacts resulting from this historic event. Power outages occurred for over three weeks in many areas. Several indirect fatalities due to the extreme elements were documented. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurred within a few homes as gas generators were being used in garages, which allowed for dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to seep into houses.