The Chaffee, Oran, Delta area was surprised and astounded by a paralyzing
blizzard that hit the entire Southeast Missouri area last Sunday
morning with 24 inches of snow and howling winds that gusted up to 50
MPH.
Lightening and thunder accompanied the storm while visibility was
down to 25 to 50 feet creating an erie situation.
The huge storm started with a mild rain storm on Saturday evening
during which winds shifted to the north in the early A.M. dropping
temperatures into the teens and creating what was described as the
worst blizzard in the history of Chaffee.
All traffic was brought to a stand still. Emergency
vehicles were stranded and four wheel drive vehicles were useless in
the heavy drifts, many of which reached 8 to 10 feet deep.
The snow continued most of Sunday and the winds continued at 25 to 35
MPH into the night. The snow continued to shift forming
drifts which were impassable.
Numerous awnings in the downtown Chaffee area fell under the weight
of the snow. Florsheim Shoe Factory lost their fitting
room when over 50 percent of the roof fell into the floor.
According to Florsheim factory superintendent, Steve Duffy, it will be
several days before decisions are made on procedures at the factory.
Monday morning dawned bright and clear with temperatures rising
into the 30's. Doctors were flown into the Chaffee
Hospital by helicopter. Hospital personnel worked several
shifts without being relieved. All automobile
traffic was ordered off the road as numerous four wheel drive vehicles
continued to impede the work and movement of emergency
vehicles. Police issued tickets to violators and stopped
all traffic at the Main and Yoakum intersection with the assistance of
the auxiliary police department. Farmers arrived in town
with large tractors equipped with blades and tackled the huge task of
opening up Main Street and Yoakum Street and fire lanes to various
sections of the town in an attempt to make streets passable for
emergency vehicles.
Thousands of out-of-town people and travelers were trapped on I-55
between Sikeston and Cape Girardeau, most of whom were moved to the
Scott County Courthouse and the Sikeston Armory.
During Monday and early Tuesday milk and bread became in short
supply at all the local supermarkets. The mail which has
always boasted of moving through wind and snow and rain and the dark
of night was not delivered for three days.
The huge blizzard of February 25, 1979 will probably go down in the
record books and most folks in the Chaffee, Oran, and Delta area hope
the record is never broken.
This ends our review of the 1979
Blizzard, the Chaffee Historical Society has many photos and other material
in regard to this disaster. Please come and visit our
museum..
