Congressman Jason Smith visits Dexter; views storm damage/recovery

Congressman Jason Smith visited Dexter on Tuesday afternoon to view the damage SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County suffered as a result of the EF-2 tornado that struck Dexter Saturday evening.

Smith was joined by hospital administration, Senator Jason Bean, Representative Herman Morse, Dexter Fire Chief/City EMA Director Don Seymore, Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout and City Administrator Trevor Pulley.

Congressman Jason Smith (left) speaks with Dexter Fire Chief/City EMA Director Don Seymore and City Administrator Trevor Pulley outside SoutheastHealth of Stoddard County. DEXTER STATESMAN/Josh Ayers

Following the tour of the hospital Smith spoke of the importance of the hospital to Dexter and the surrounding area.

“This hospital is very, very important because any rural community deserves a hospital to help provide the health care that we need, 7,500 people live right here in this community,” said Smith. “This hospital is so important that the vice president of the United States came here for the ground-breaking back in the '60s. I think that if its important for the vice president of the United States to come here for the dedication of it, it is important today.”

The vice president Smith referred to is Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who came to Dexter in 1968 for the hospital's dedication.

SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County CEO Sue Ann Williams speaks to Congressman Smith. DEXTER STATESMAN/Josh Ayers

“We have to do it as quickly as possible because everyday they are not up and around it's that much health care not being provided to the citizens of Stoddard County,” said Smith on the importance of reopening the hospital. “And even surrounding counties for that matter because if you look just south of here in Dunklin County, we don't have a hospital there either.”

Smith then took an auto tour of the damaged residential sections of Dexter to view both the damage and the recovery progress. On Tuesday afternoon when Smith toured the area, a large portion of the fallen trees had been cut and stacked at the edge of streets awaiting pickup by city crews.

“It is amazing how Dexter has bounced back so quickly with the community help. Everyone jumped to action,” said Smith after the tour. “You saw something that happened Saturday evening and this is Tuesday. They (residents) are back to business where they open up. I've seen a lot of natural disasters in our congressional district and friends helping friends and neighbors. Dexter has been a great example here. I am so thankful no one was killed and from what we have been told no one was injured. When you look at the damage of these homes, the hospital, the trailers, its pretty scary.”

Congressman Smith greets Dr. Reza Jalal as SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County CEO Sue Ann Williams looks on. DEXTER STATESMAN/Josh Ayers

“I was in contact with them (city officials) Saturday to see if there was anything we could do,” said Bean who has accompanied Smith on the auto tour. “It is very, very impressive to see what the EMS personnel did here in Stoddard County. From the police to the sheriff, the emergency management, everybody did an impressive job. From when I was here Sunday to now (Tuesday) very, very impressive of the cleanup they have done. I didn't realize how much damage (there) was to the hospital and my hats off to Southeast Missouri for (being) willing to move at the progress they are to bring the hospital back online.”

Seymore spoke about the city's response to the disaster.

Congressman Smith, Senator Jason Bean and Representative Herman Morse join Dexter city officials and hospital administration for a photo prior to the tour of damaged residential sections of Dexter. DEXTER STATESMAN/Josh Ayers

“When the incident started we activated the emergency management plan and once the emergency management plan was activated we made rapid progress. We worked all the way to 2:30 in the morning to get the main streets opened up,” said Seymore. “I felt the street and water department and the police and fire all worked well together along with Ameren UE. They walked the streets with us to tell us which trees had power in them (fallen power lines were entangled in the trees toppled by the tornado). I felt it really went real well and by Sunday night we had every street and alley opened up.”