By chance, I was traveling through McGhee and Dumas 20 minutes before this storm hit. Let me tell you, the winds and rains were vicious and there was no doubt in my mind that the tornado watch was soon to be a warning. If I hadn’t stopped for an early lunch in Pine Bluff I suspect I’d of been right in the middle of this, for those in Dumas, Gods speed.

Gov. Mike Beebe said Sunday that he will leave a governors’ conference two days early to survey damage from Saturday’s storm in Dumas.

Beebe planned to return to the state early this morning, cutting short a four-day trip to the annual National Governors Association meeting.

Beebe said he will visit areas hardest hit by a storm that left at least 27 people injured and destroyed homes and businesses in Dumas. He expects the southeast Arkansas community to be eligible for state and federal disaster assistance.

Beebe, a Democrat, will miss a meeting between the president and governors today at the White House, though he and his wife, Ginger, were to attend a state dinner in honor of the nation’s governors Sunday night.

“I thought it was more important to be with the county judge than the president tomorrow,” Beebe said Sunday.

“I think it’s important that those people know that their governor, the head of the state, cares enough about what’s going on with them to show the flag, if you will,” he added.

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, in consultation with Beebe, deployed about 100 Arkansas National Guard troops to the southeast Arkansas community to assist in recovery efforts. Halter is serving as acting governor while Beebe is out of state.

The storm knocked out electricity and telephone service to much of the area. The National Weather Service was in Dumas on Sunday to determine whether the damage was caused by a tornado or straight-line winds.

Beebe said he will be flown by National Guard helicopter from Little Rock to the site once he returns to Arkansas.