At approximately 12:55 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, an EF-2 tornado swept through south Hot Springs, leaving behind a trail of stranded residents and damaged properties. Thankfully, no deaths were reported as a result of the storm.

According to Entergy Arkansas, approximately 60 utility poles, 7 transformers, 13 crossarms, and nearly 88 spans of wire were damaged or destroyed during the storm, leaving more than 9,300 homes in the Hot Springs Network without power. More than 1,100 Entergy workers arrived in the area to help with restoration efforts.

Numerous City departments sprang into action to assist those affected: Hot Springs Police blocked unpassable streets and patrolled the neighborhoods; Hot Springs Fire conducted search/rescue operations, cutting down/removing debris, and performing countless welfare checks on citizens; the Street Division and CAPS crew worked tirelessly to clear several roads, and the Utilities Department mobilized to repair a few broken water mains in those areas and monitor nearby pump stations.

Recognizing the surge in green waste, the Hot Springs Compost Facility extended its operating hours to 12-hour days, seven days a week, to accommodate the influx of debris from the storm. So far, as of May 20, the facility has received more than 16,700 cubic yards of green waste debris. For 24 hours, the Davidson Wastewater Treatment Plant personnel worked around the clock to keep the plant in operation while running on three backup generators.

Despite sustaining damage at its facility, the Parks and Trails Maintenance Division rallied its staff, alongside the CAPS crews, Street Division's Urban Forestry Subdivision and assistance from prisoners of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, to clear Entergy Park of numerous fallen trees. Even after the countless man-hours to reopen Entergy Park, its Water Tower Loop and Fenceline trails continue to be closed for trail reconstruction.

As of Monday, May 13, all city streets and electricity are back in operation.

A special thanks to Entergy Arkansas, Summit Utilities, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, St. Luke’s Episcopal, and countless others for joining in to get the Hot Springs area back on its feet.

Check out the Hot Springs Tornado Relief video at https://youtu.be/4Kw1YuWkMuE.