(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Officials in Pottawattamie County, today (Tuesday) confirmed “Ten days after tornado activity devastated several areas of Pottawattamie County, another tornado touched down east of Minden in the late-night hours of May 6th.” Early assessments indicate seven properties, and a hog confinement were impacted by the latest storm. No injuries were reported.

Officials say there was no major damage to homes in the area, but several outbuildings and trees were destroyed. Power poles were snapped in the storm as well. The area experienced temporary power disruptions. Power was restored in Neola before midnight and restored in Minden as of 3:00AM on May 7th. The National Weather Service has deployed a field assessment team to survey the damage and to estimate the tornado’s rating, peak winds, length, width, and track.

May 6, 2024 tornado path

Federal Disaster Declaration Request
Teams comprised of local and state emergency management personnel, FEMA, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will fan out and conduct a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (JPDA). The assessment, according to officials, is the formal validation assessment of data submitted by local officials and impacted residents and business owners to support the governor’s request for federal assistance. After the JPDA is completed across the several impacted areas of the state, FEMA will make its recommendation to the President. Local officials are hopeful to be informed of a positive determination in the coming days.

How to Help
Currently, all communities in the county have received sufficient donations of household items. If you would like to volunteer, Emergency Management has partnered with Samaritans Purse, who is continuing to organize volunteers to assist in impacted areas throughout the county. To sign up to volunteer call 531-242-2206. On-site safety meetings are required before volunteering.

How to Request Help
If you are still in need of assistance around your house and property you can call 833-747-1234 to speak to a Samaritans Purse representative. Disaster survivors can also access food items, hygiene products, and household resources from multiple locations.
• Crescent City Hall, 102 W Florence Street, Crescent, Iowa
• Neola Area Community Center, 110 4th Street, Neola, Iowa
• Charles E. Lakin Foundation, 705 N 16th Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Treynor City Hall, 11 West Main Street, Treynor Iowa

Additional Multi-agency Resource Centers (MARCs) are being planned. Locations, dates, and times will be announced in the coming days.