It could have been a lot worse if the tornado had hit a few hours earlier after 8 PM shows had let out or during the shows themselves, or if the tornado had hit during the busy summer season. Even earlier last night would have really been bad, as documented by my friend Melanie here.
Ozarkers are resilient folks, and they will band together and rebuild Branson bigger and better than before. I imagine that by the time we go to Branson on vacation in June, it will look like nothing ever happened. The Branson tornado damage was seen on CNN and all the nightly news shows, and that was publicity you can't pay for. The tornado may bring more people to Branson than ever before, just in time for Branson's 100th anniversary.
If you have a trip to Branson planned in the next couple of weeks, you may want to call where you plan on staying and any shows you were planning to attend to see if they'll be up and running. The half of Hwy. 76 west of Gretna was not touched by the tornado, so if your vacation plans are for the west side of the Strip, you should be fine. Go here to see what is currently closed. You can see photos of the damage at www.facebook.com/BransonRecovery, www.hometowndailynews.com, or www.ky3.com.
Please keep Branson and its residents in your prayers. I hope to bring you better news next time!
