Union County Sheriff’s office assisting after Benton Co. tornado; 1 fatality reported there

Early Wednesday evening Union County Sheriff’s Department officers were assisting with tornado-damage search and rescue in Benton County.

Sheriff Jimmy Edwards told NAnewsweb.com that there had been at least one fatality in Benton County, and that he and several deputies are helping in the search for any other possible victims.

The sheriff said he and his officers were headed to Marshall County to assist there, when they learned of the need in Benton.

Benton County, which lies immediately northwest of Union County, has a total population of less than 8,300 and relatively few law enforcement and emergency assets.

Sheriff Edwards said he was not aware of any injuries or serious damage having occurred in Union County.

As of 9 p.m. Wednesday NWS radar showed most of the storm had moved east of Union County, but a few trailing thunderstorms might strike here before midnight.

For more information on the tornado: Tornado wreaks havoc