Branson Mayor: City To Reopen This Week After Tuesday Night Tornado

A number of businesses including several theatres along Highway 76 have been damaged in Branson, Missouri by a line of storms which blew through late Tuesday night.

Police have closed Highway 76 from U.S. Highway 65 to state Highway 376.

Skaggs Hospital in Branson says so far it's treated 31 people following the storm.  Michelle LeRoux with the hospital says most of the injuries have been minor to moderate, mostly cuts and abrasions.  All but six have been released from the hospital.

Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley promised Wednesday that the city will be back in business in days, maybe as early as Thursday, after what was believed to be a tornado ripped through Branson.

At a news conference on Wednesday morning, Presley said more of Branson is not damaged that is damaged.

The electric utility in the area, Empire District Electric reports at the height of the outages, they had 6,500 customers without power.  That number is now reduced to 5,500 customers in and around Branson.

The city of Branson says water and sewer services were not impacted by the storms.

Businesses damaged:

• Dixie Stampede
• Ride The Ducks
• Grand Palace
• Angel Inn
• Walmart
• Jubilee Foods
• Branson Mall
• Red Roof Inn
• Branson Veterans Museum
• Branson Variety Theatre
• Americana Theatre
• Hilton Convention Center
• Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre
• Leisure Country Inn

The folks at Silver Dollar City, just west of Branson, say it did not sustain any damage and will open for business as scheduled next month.

Two shelters have been set up.  One is for Branson residents at the Branson Rec Plex and the other is for tourists and visitors at Branson Towers. 

The Red Cross has a website for family and friends to leave word that they are safe.
The website is safeandwell.communityos.org.