Hailstorm Devastates Springfield Zoo, Emu Killed

0:00It's April 29, I'm Cory with the story. This is Kansas News Today, driven by AI. A brutal hailstorm slams Southwest Missouri on Tuesday, dropping chunks as big as four and a half inches bigger than softballs and spots. It wrecked dozens of cars and buildings across Springfield and hit the Dickerson Park Zoo hard, killing a 21-year-old female EMU named Adam. The zoo shut down Wednesday while keepers cleared debris and check damage from shattered roofs and skylights. Staff rushed to shelter animals during the sudden onslaught, but couldn't save Adam, whose head was probably smaller than some of those hailballs. A Rheaburg got her too and is under treatment now. Heartbroken zookeepers called it unprecedented, with the storm hitting before noon and catching everyone off guard visitors, including school groups. All made it to safety with zero injuries. Cars took the worst beating, many totaled, including one staffers ride dropped off for repairs. This topped Springfield's past hail records.

1:00No previous event reached four inches, beating out four big ones log before. Damage outdid even last year's tornado that ripped through the area a year ago, Wednesday. Zoo crews hustled through Wednesday to patch things up, eyeing a Thursday reopening so families can get back to the animal soon.