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UPDATE: NWS confirms Tornado in Adams & Adair Counties upgrade from EF-3 to EF-4!

News, Weather

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
358 PM CDT Thu May 23 2024

…NWS Damage Survey for 05/21/2024 Tornado Event Update #2…

.Update…

After completing damage assessments across Adams and Adair Counties, including Greenfield, survey teams have identified damage consistent with EF4 tornado damage, with peak wind speeds of 175-185 mph. EF4 damage was located within the community of Greenfield and across rural portions of southern Adair County. Additional analysis of data will occur through the coming days and weeks, so further refinement of the tornado statistics are possible.

.Greenfield Tornado…

Rating: EF4
Estimated Peak Wind: 175-185 mph
Path Length /statute/: 43.98 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1000 yards
Fatalities: 5
Injuries: 35

Start Date: 05/21/2024
Start Time: 02:57 PM CDT
Start Location: 3 SSE Villisca / Page County / IA
Start Lat/Lon: 40.8866 / -94.9571

End Date: 05/21/2024
End Time: 03:43 PM CDT
End Location: 4 ENE Greenfield / Adair County / IA
End Lat/Lon: 41.337 / -94.3825

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0…..65 to 85 mph
EF1…..86 to 110 mph
EF2…..111 to 135 mph
EF3…..136 to 165 mph
EF4…..166 to 200 mph
EF5…..>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

Iowa’s new grads need to use caution during the job hunt

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Many thousands of young Iowans graduated from high school or college in recent days, and they’re now prime targets for crooks who prey on job-seekers. If you’re hunting for employment, be wary for scams, as consumer protection expert Michelle Reinen says criminals will post fake job offers that really are too good to be true.

Reinen says a new scam offers to set up a home office for you, using a legitimate-looking check the scammers send through the mail. She says absolutely do your research before accepting an offer that just pops up in your inbox, promising easy money. Also, Reinen suggests using Google Maps to make sure the address to whatever company you’re considering actually exists.

Governor says 153 homes in Greenfield were destroyed by Tuesday’s tornado

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says more than 200 Iowa homes were destroyed by Tuesday’s tornadoes, including more than 150 in Greenfield.

Reynolds and the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency toured Greenfield this morning. “We can give them all the data, we can show them the destruction,” Reynolds said, “but to really be on the ground and see firsthand and to listen to the stories is really beneficial.”

Reynolds submitted a request to the White House this morning for federal disaster assistance for four counties, including Adair County, where Greenfield is located. “In Adair County alone we had 153 major destroyed homes,” Reynolds said. “Montgomery had eight, Polk County 26, Story County 15 — for a total of 202.”

That’s a tally of flattened homes. Reynolds told reporters there’s no count yet on damaged businesses. FEMA director Deanne Criswell, who joined Reynolds for a news conference in Greenfield, said the agency will process the governor’s request for federal disaster aid as quickly as possible.

“As much as I’ve been watching the videos and seeing the pictures of the tornado damage, it just does not do it justice when you’re here on the ground and you can see the homes gone,” Criswell said, “or you can talk to a member who lost their home and they share their story about how they just barely escaped death.”

Criswell thanked first responders for their life-saving actions on Tuesday and offered advice to storm victims.

“The best thing you can do right now is to take a lot of photos and document the damages to your home,” she said. “We want to be able to have that information both for your insurance company and if and when a disaster is declared here, we’ll have to have that information to process any other types of assistance that are out there.”

Power had been restored to about half of Greenfield by midday today, according to the governor.

“I was on the ground yesterday and I can’t even tell you the amount of debris that has been collected and hauled off,” Reynolds said. “In some of those streets, it looked like a different place.”

Reynolds said there are a few people using the emergency shelter in Greenfield’s high school, but most storm victims are staying with family or friends.

Miller-Meeks criticizes NIH advisor’s ‘skirt’ remark about CDC director

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport says email obtained by a U-S House subcommittee shows the senior scientific advisor in the National Institutes of Health has made vile comments about women in medicine.

Miller-Meeks questioned Dr. David Morens during a congressional hearing about his email about the female director of the C-D-C, saying she wore a skirt and was considered the cat’s pajamas by another man.

Morens admits it was a misogynistic, snarky comment and he started to apologize during the hearing, but Miller-Meeks interrupted, saying it indicates how Morens views women.

State Auditor of releases agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Casey

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa)-  Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand today released an agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Casey, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.

Sand reported five findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are found on pages 9 and 10 of the report. The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, journal entries not reviewed and approved and the lack of written policies related to the City’s credit card and gas card.

Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings. The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.

A copy of the agreed-upon procedures report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Audit Reports – Auditor of State.

Girl’s state wrestling tourney going to 2 classes

Sports

May 23rd, 2024 by admin

The Iowa Girls’ State Wrestling meet is expanding to two classes. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union added girls wrestling as a sanctioned sport two years ago and the first two state tournaments were held with no classes. The largest 64 wrestling schools will now be in Class 2-A and the remaining schools in Class 1-A for this year’s meet. Wrestlers will compete in regional meets with the top 16 qualifiers by weight in each class advancing to the state tournament February 6th-7th in Coralville. Girls Union executive director Erin Gerlich said in a statement that the rapid rise in number of girls participating in wrestling has exceeded thier expectations and they hope the addition of classes will encourage more schools to add programs. There are 204 schools sponsoring a girls’ wrestling program in 2024, with 61 other schools in cooperative sharing agreements for teams.

Sunnyside Pool Announces 2024 Season Opening and New Manager

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Nishna Valley Family YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, today (Thursday) report Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic will hold its grand opening for the 2024 summer season, on May 31st! The pool will be open daily from 1-until 7-p.m., offering the community a perfect place to cool off and enjoy the summer days. Sunnyside will be operated under the direction of the Nishna Valley YMCA this year with partnership of the Atlantic Parks and Rec department. The YMCA will be handling all day to day patron and staffing operations and the Park and Rec will be taking care of the maintenance and water.

Haynes said “The YMCA is happy to reengage and partner with the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department to bring the community the very best aquatics activities we can offer and maximize the talent and facilities we currently have. I’d like to thank Chelsie Rush and Chelsie Huddleson for their work in helping us get to this point as well as Jeff and Kirk from the City side to prepare the pool”

He added, “We are excited to introduce Vanessa Proehl as our new manager this year. Vanessa plans to continue building on last year’s successes by introducing new events and options for our patrons to enjoy. With her leadership, we anticipate a season filled with fun, community, and growth.”

Season Pass Information

Sunnyside Pool offers a variety of season passes to fit everyone’s needs:

  • Group Pass: $130 (passholder + four additional members)
  • Individual Pass: $90 (single member)
  • Punch Pass: $35 (ten entries)

Passes can be conveniently purchased online through a form link available on the Sunnyside Pool Facebook page, or simply scan the QR code on the flyer, this form will collect a payment from a card when submitted. Memberships will also be available for purchase at the pool, payment methods accepted at the pool this year will be cash, check or card. Checks should be made out to the Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Upcoming Enhancements

While the city was unable to install a slide this year due to regulatory constraints, we are pleased to announce that a new pump system will be installed mid-season, improving the pool’s overall efficiency and water quality.

Parks and Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen says “We understand that a new pump is not all that exciting but it is necessary to keep Sunnyside Pool up and running.”

Stay tuned to the Sunnyside Pool Facebook page for updates on the pump installation dates, exciting new evening events, weather closures, special promotions, and more.

Adams County Tornado rated an EF-3

News, Weather

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the National Weather Service report that a tornado affecting parts of Page, Montgomery and Adams counties has a preliminary rating of EF-3, with estimated peak winds of 140-to 150-miles per hour. The event began at 2:43-p.m. and ended at 3:19-p.m. The 1,300 yard wide tornado traveled 32 miles.

The damage was limited primarily to rural areas of Adams County. Officials say five or six houses were destroyed, two homes sustained major damage, and fences, livestock, and several wind turbines were toppled.

Disaster Recovery Fund Established in Adams County

News

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Corning, Iowa – Officials with the Adams Community Foundation say a Disaster Recovery Fund (DRF) has been established to support vulnerable populations following the severe weather events on May 21, 2024. The DRF provides an opportunity for the public to give, with the reassurance that donations will be quickly moved to resources where they are needed most to adapt to evolving needs. The flexibility of the fund ensures that the county can respond to supplement needs being provided by existing nonprofit, local, state, and federal programs.

Adams Community Foundation President Nancy Turner said “Our county has proven that we are better together, and this collaborative spirit will once again prevail as we support our neighbors in need.” The Adams Community Foundation has committed an immediate $500 to the DRF. Join us in giving to support Adams County: https://desmoinesfoundation.org/AdamsCountyDisasterRecovery.

Funds received will first focus on disproportionately affected communities by addressing economic barriers and health impacts of populations negatively impacted by disaster. The long-term application of the fund will focus on additional needs that are not already being met that may inevitably arise. Grants will be provided to community-based organizations and service providers active in current response and will not be made available for individual application. A team of community leaders and grantmakers will work together to identify recipients with deep roots in the community and experience delivering support and services to vulnerable populations in moments of crisis.

Montgomery County Tornado rated EF-1

News, Weather

May 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports a tornado that began Tuesday afternoon near Red Oak, was rated as an EF-1, which typically packs winds of 86-to 110-miles per hour. Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman says the brief tornado was confirmed by video, emergency management and a National Weather Service survey team in the southwest sections of Red Oak.
The 75-yard wide tornado began at around 2:37-p.m. south of the railroad tracks about one-quarter of a mile east of G Avenue, damaging trees, before moving into the industrial area south of Coolbaugh Avenue, where the twister damaged a commercial garage. The tornado continued northeast, damaging trees before ending just north of the intersection of West 2nd Street and West Reed Street (just under one-mile from where it started). The survey team continues to collect information from multiple sources, and results are subject to change.