Callaway County was battered Wednesday afternoon by a severe storm that included heavy rain, hail, high winds and scattered reports of tornadoes.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for much of Callaway County and Central Missouri on Wednesday. Two separate tornado warnings were issued for the Fulton area on Wednesday afternoon.
With eyes cast upward, many people saw clouds moving rapidly and feared a tornado might be forming.
Michelle Kidwell, Callaway County emergency management director, said many people were calling and asking where to go to take shelter.
"We really don't have a designated area for a public tornado shelter," Kidwell said. "Because of the deadly tornado in Joplin, there appears to be a heightened awareness and concern about the threat of a tornado in Callaway County."