Full Breakdown
Effingham County Declares Disaster After Wednesday Night Tornado
6/19/2026, 4:19:01 AM
Storm Sequence and Immediate Damage
Wednesday night brought two storms to Effingham County at 8 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. A confirmed tornado traveled roughly 12–15 miles from west of Shumway to south of Montrose, damaging homes, farms, businesses, power lines and a dairy farm. Emergency crews reported no fatalities and minor injuries.
Key Responders
County Board Chairman Joshua Douthit issued the disaster proclamation. Fire Chief Brant Yochum led fire-department response, and Sheriff Paul Kuhns oversaw law-enforcement dispatch. Teutopolis Fire Chief Tim McMahon and Dieterich Fire Chief Ross Martin reported damage in their districts.
Impact Data
EMA logged 17 utility-related 911 calls, 14 reports of heavily damaged structures, and additional weather, smoke, vehicle and business alarms. The shelter held 78 people. Damage included a roof loss at Buhnerkempe Plumbing and Heating, loss of outbuildings at the Soltwedel farm and the destruction of Meier Dairy Farm. Route 40 was closed for several hours.
Official Statements & County Response
Chairman Joshua Douthit said the proclamation enables deployment of county resources, procurement of aid and coordination with agencies. Sheriff Paul Kuhns urged residents to avoid damaged zones because of downed power lines and road hazards, and expressed confidence in the community’s recovery. EMA directed residents to its Facebook page and a damage-reporting survey.
On-the-Ground Observations
Fire Chief Brant Yochum reported crews addressing collapsed structures, downed lines, gas leaks and vehicle crashes, with no injuries. Tim McMahon noted a roof torn from Buhnerkempe Plumbing and Heating and damage to homes. Ross Martin observed a hog barn damaged northeast of Island Grove, with no injuries.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
EMA reported no serious injuries, while fire chiefs documented several minor injuries. No fatalities or missing persons have been confirmed, but casualty data are pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This Disaster Proclamation allows the immediate and appropriate level of response to assist Effingham County residents, first responders, and other support agencies in the aftermath of the tornado and severe weather in the county,” — Joshua Douthit, County Board Chairman
- “Please do not venture into the heavily damaged areas just to look,” — Paul Kuhns, County Sheriff
- “The city said the driver of the car was driven to the hospital by a civilian before firefighters arrived on scene.” — Effingham County EMA (press release)
- “I know the community will come together to clean up and salvage property like they always do,” — Paul Kuhns, County Sheriff
Next Steps
Effingham County will continue damage assessments, road and utility repairs, and aid distribution through EMA. Residents are urged to complete the online damage survey and monitor EMA updates for shelter and reconstruction information.
