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SWCC hit by tornado, Creston hospital may also have been hit by the twister

News

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Creston confirmed late Saturday night that a tornado struck the town, and caused damage to at least two structures. During a press conference, emergency officials said the tornado hit Southwestern Community College just after 7-p.m.  The same tornado or straight line winds, also caused damage to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. The hospital sustained what officials said was “significant damage.” There were reports of injuries, but no reported fatalities as of late Saturday night. Patients at the hospital were transported to Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, about 25 miles away

Creston Mayor Warren Woods says a storm swept through the town of about 7,800 residents between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, damaging the northwest corner of the community. The Des Moines Register, citing Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer, reported more than 100 firefighters, most of them volunteers, as well as state and county disaster crews were combing through wreckage late Saturday night into early this morning, in search of any missing people.  Firefighters switched to a 12-hour rotation to keep up relief efforts through the night. As many as 75 police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers from across central Iowa were said to be on hand maintaining security, directing traffic and assisting in public aid.

UPDATE: TORNADO WARNING NOW CANCELLED FOR POTT. COUNTY

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

112 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE TORNADO WARNING FOR POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY IS CANCELLED…

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE LIMITS…AND NO LONGER APPEARS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. IN ADDITION…SEVERE THUNDERSTORM REDEVELOPMENT REMAINS POSSIBLE… AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM.

TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1:30-AM FOR POTT. COUNTY

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

103 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012 A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM CDT FOR POTTAWATTAMIE COUNT

AT 1259 AM CDT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR UNDERWOOD…OR 17 MILES EAST OF OMAHA…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… AVOCA…OAKLAND…WALNUT…UNDERWOOD…HANCOCK AND MCCLELLAND. THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS… HIGHWAY 59 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 52 AND 58. INTERSTATE 80 IN IOWA NEAR MILE MARKER 17…AND BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 40 AND 46.

Wind Advisory issued for late Sunday morning thru 7pm Sunday

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM CDT SUNDAY.

SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING AND BE VERY WINDY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.  WIND SPEEDS SHOULD INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH…WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 TO 55 MPH POSSIBLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS BETWEEN 45 TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS IF POSSIBLE.

Water on the road leads to rollover accident in Cass County

News

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Water ponding on the road contributed to a rollover accident Saturday evening on Interstate 80, in Cass County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 18-year old Samantha Tyson, of Walbridge, OH, was traveling in the right lane eastbound on I-80 about two-miles east of the Anita exit, when the Buick LeSabre she was driving went through water standing on the road to due recent heavy rains, and began to hydroplane. The car went out of control and skidded across the left lane before it entered south ditch,  rolled onto the drivers side and came to rest on its wheels. The accident happened at around 7-p.m. Saturday. Tyson was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic by Anita Rescue. Offficials say the teen was wearing her seat belt. A report on her condition is not available.

TORNADO WARNING: POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY UNTIL 1:30-A.M. SUNDAY

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

1257 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…UNTIL 130 AM CDT

* AT 1255 AM CDT…DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR UNDERWOOD…OR 14 MILES EAST OF OMAHA…AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

AVOCA…OAKLAND…WALNUT…HANCOCK AND MCCLELLAND.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS…

HIGHWAY 59 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 52 AND 58.

INTERSTATE 80 IN IOWA NEAR MILE MARKER 17…AND BETWEEN MILE

MARKERS 40 AND 46.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH UPDATE: 12:27-A.M. SUN., APRIL 15TH

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD COUNTIES

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING…

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY OVERNIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL. FLASH FLOODING WILL BE A THREAT…ESPECIALLY FOR LOCATIONS WHICH SAW HEAVY RAINFALL ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Mills/Pottawattamie Co. until 1:15-a.m.

Weather

April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

1241 AM CDT SUN APR 15 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA…MILLS COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN IOWA…SARPY COUNTY IN EASTERN NEBRASKA…UNTIL 115 AM CDT

* AT 1236 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF OMAHA TO OFFUTT AFB…OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF LINCOLN TO 70 MILES NORTH OF FALLS CITY…AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY THE DAMAGING WINDS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…COUNCIL BLUFFS…BELLEVUE…OFFUTT AFB…GLENWOOD…OAKLAND…TREYNOR…UNDERWOOD…CARSON…EMERSON… MACEDONIA…CARTER LAKE…SILVER CITY…HASTINGS…HENDERSON AND MCCLELLAND.

THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS…

HIGHWAY 59 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 41 AND 52.

INTERSTATE 29 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 35 AND 56.

INTERSTATE 80 IN IOWA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 1 AND 20.

INTERSTATE 80 IN NEBRASKA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 450 AND 454.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH…DESTRUCTIVE HAIL…DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION…MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM CDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN IOWA AND EASTERN NEBRASKA.

Fremont County town severely damaged by possible tornado

News

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

THURMAN, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a small western Iowa community has been severely damaged by a possible tornado. Fremont County Emergency Management Director Mike Crecelius told The Associated Press on Saturday that about 75 percent of the town of Thurman was destroyed. He said there were no injuries and no deaths in the town of about 250 people.

Crecelius said the town was on lockdown Saturday night and wasn’t letting anyone in. He said town officials and residents expect to start cleaning up on Sunday. Crecelius said some residents had taken refuge in City Hall, which was the only building in town with power. Others were staying in a shelter, at motels or with relatives. The American Red Cross also set up a shelter at the Fremont-Mills High School, in Tabor, for displaced residents of Thurman.

Just before the storm hit Thurman, five semi tractor-trailers were blown over on Interstate 29. The wreckage slowed traffic on I-29 for several hours. The State Patrol said one trucker was injured, when a rig was blown over in Mills County, as well. It’s not clear how many truckers in all, were injured.

Flood Watch in effect until 10-a.m Sunday

Weather

April 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1025 PM CDT SAT APR 14 2012

…ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT…

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN OVERNIGHT. A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF IOWA OVERNIGHT…HELPING TO PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. MORE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST OF IOWA

COUNTIES: AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT SUNDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA…SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…SOUTHWEST IOWA AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA…UNTIL 10 AM CDT SUNDAY

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. THE GROUND IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE HEAVY RAINFALL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANY ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL MAY PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. THE THE AREAS WHICH RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ARE OF MOST CONCERN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.