Multiple tornadoes wreak havoc in Iowa, causing fatalities, injuries, and extensive destruction. Governor issues emergency proclamation as cleanup efforts begin amidst power outages and structural damage.
Multiple tornadoes caused significant destruction across Iowa on Tuesday evening, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and widespread damage. Houses were flattened, and flash flooding affected rural areas and surrounding cities, leaving tens of thousands without power. Iowa State Police confirmed deaths but did not provide specific details. Following the disaster, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued an emergency proclamation for 15 counties.
The town of Greenfield, approximately 90 miles southwest of Des Moines, was particularly hard-hit, with entire homes reduced to rubble and debris. The tornadoes caused more than a dozen injuries and significant structural damage, including to the Adair County Memorial Hospital, which had to transfer patients to other facilities.
In Adams County, a woman died after being ejected from her vehicle during the storm. Three wind turbines were destroyed in Adams County, and several others sustained damage in Adair County. Meteorologists warned that severe weather could continue, potentially affecting states from Missouri to Wisconsin, with over 25 million people under severe weather warnings.
Tuesday night saw a “potentially dangerous situation” tornado watch across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, indicating a high likelihood of multiple and strong tornadoes. Amid the destruction, cleanup efforts began, and curfews were implemented in affected areas to facilitate recovery. The true extent of the damage remains under assessment.
