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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Harlan, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Shelby County have declared a State Of Emergency, as authorized under Iowa Statutory Law, following the destructive storms that struck the area on April 26th. In a press release, the Board said their action will result in the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, the invoking of mutual aid agreements. Approximately 60 homes sustained damage ranging from minor to destroyed. No towns were taking a direct hit in the county. The properties affected are in rural areas or on the edge of the incorporated limits. Officials say the goal is to complete the damage assessments by the weekend’s end. Utilities, some roadways, and the County Landfill were also damaged. At this time, the landfill will be closed until further notice.
A number of trained professionals watched as a massive multi vortex tornado moved into Shelby County at around 6:05-p.m., Friday. There was significant damage between Portsmouth and Harlan with homes having been destroyed, outbuildings, grain bins and trees shredded and blown throughout fields. The Shelby County Golf Course north of Harlan sustained significant damage, with the roof torn off the clubhouse, sheds losing their roofs, and trees down all over the golf course.
The tornado moved from west of Harlan to the west edge of Harlan and traveled along highway 44, up highway 59 and Linden road to just south of Defiance, causing extensive damage. A tornado was observed just west of Manilla at about 7 pm.
According to the Shelby County EMA’s office, approximately 60 homes sustained damage ranging from minor to destroyed. Officials say the goal is to complete the damage assessments by the weekend’s end. Utilities, some roadways, and the County Landfill were also damaged. At this time, the landfill will be closed until further notice.
(Delaware & Cerro Gordo Counties) – The Iowa State Patrol reports two people died and two others were injured in separate crashes over the past couple of days. One person was killed and two others were injured in a Delaware County crash Friday afternoon. The Patrol says a Polaris Ranger UTV was traveling southbound on 190th Ave in Rural Ryan around 2:30-p.m., when the operator of the machine, 39-year-old Kyle James Kelchen, of Manchester, failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle was then struck by a pick-up truck that was traveling eastbound on 310th Street. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch. Kelchen died at the scene.
The driver of the pickup, 67-year-old Gerald John Beitz, and his passenger, 65-year-old Susan Eileen Beitz, both of Monticello, were injured but did not require transport to the hospital. Both were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.
Late Saturday night, a wrong-way driver on Interstate 35 in Cerro Gordo County, died when the 2008 Chevy Cobalt he was driving, collided with a 2015 Freightliner semi. The driver of the car was identified as 40-year-old Glen Evan Hemming, of Mason City. The accident happened as the car was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of traffic at around 11:20-p.m., near mile marker 194. The Patrol says the driver of the semi – a man from Burnsville, MN – was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.
(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested early Sunday morning (April 28), on a Felony warrant. 28-year-old Dylan Elwood Taylor, of Red Oak, was arrested on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree – a Class D Felony. Taylor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa– A state of emergency remains in effect for Pottawattamie County and in the City of Minden, following severe weather that occurred on Friday, April 26th, when several confirmed tornado activity in the areas. Affected areas include western portions of Council Bluffs, northeast of Crescent, east of McClelland, southwest of Treynor, and the city of Minden. In total, the NWS Omaha issued 42 tornado warnings for its coverage area, which includes parts of western Iowa.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Pottawattamie County Friday night. Officials think about half the town of Minden – with a population of about 600 – was destroyed. Four storm-related injuries have been reported. Three individuals were treated and released, while one remains hospitalized in stable condition. Saturday morning, the city opened for residents to be able to start their cleanup and recovery.
“We signed a disaster proclamation last night, which opened up state resources and individual assistance for the community,” Reynolds said Saturday. She said emergency responders are on the ground and were working to remove debris. She said “then we’ll just assess what we need to do next, what next steps are.”
Minden’s mayor broke down in tears at one point during the governor’s tour of the damage. The Mayor sustained damage to his home and business in 1976 and now in 2024. Community members are hopeful that they will recover. A curfew of 10-p.m. until 6-a.m. remains in until further notice for the City of Minden.
Preliminary information indicates varying degrees of damage to approximately 120 homes and businesses in Pottawattamie County. American Red Cross established two shelters in the county that were not needed as displaced residents were able to arrange overnight accommodations, according to the Pott. County EMA.
The most concentrated damage from these weather events occurred in Minden. Gas and power utilities services have been disrupted, and access to the city of Minden has been closed to outside traffic. Due to the hazardous conditions, only residents of Minden will be granted access at this time.
Ongoing disaster information can be found on Emergency Management Agency website at https://pcema-ia.org. Community-specific information for Minden can be found on the City of Minden Facebook page, as well as the Tri-Center Community School District Facebook page. Damage to residential and business properties should be reported at the Emergency Management Agency website.
The NWS office in Des Moines says, based on preliminary reports, at least 10 tornadoes occurred in their central/southern Iowa warning area of responsibility. Damage to trees and homes has been reported in multiple counties from Crawford to Union and Ringgold up to around Polk and Jasper Counties. Teams continue to evaluate damage.
Twisters in the Creston and Afton areas were rated as EF-2’s, with with speeds estimated at between 125-130 mph, and were on the ground anywhere from 6-10 miles. They ranged from 150 to 350 yards wide. A tornado near Mount Ayr was rated an EF-1, with winds of up to 110-mph. It was on the ground for 26.5 miles, and was 300 yards wide.
(Council Bluffs, IA) – Our southwest Iowa communities, as well as our neighbors in eastern Nebraska, are coping with heartbreaking loss and destruction caused by a series of tornadoes and storms that tore through the region on Friday, April 26. Damage is so severe, that many impacted neighborhoods and communities are inaccessible at this time.
The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is here to support our southwest Iowa communities in gathering donations through the Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund. Donations to the fund will support Iowa nonprofit partners, communities, disaster relief organizations, and public health organizations who are on the front line of disaster relief efforts.
To donate to the Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund, visit: https://bit.ly/southwest-iowa-relief-fund. Additionally, SHARE Iowa – an initiative of the Community Foundation — is a resource to access information on how you can assist our communities through relief efforts. Many nonprofit organizations and individuals have started to arrange donation drives and volunteer opportunities in support of individuals and communities impacted by the tornadoes, and SHARE Iowa will update its resource website and Facebook page frequently as information is received: www.sharegoodiowa.org/tornado or
www.facebook.com/sharegoodiowa.
All relief items for the Minden and East Pottawattamie County communities can be taken to the Neola Area Community Center at 110 4th Street, Neola IA 51559. Relief items for the Crescent community can be taken to the Crescent fire barn at 102 W Florence Street, Crescent IA 51526 between noon and 3PM today.
Relief items that are needed include: blankets, warm clothing such as sweaters and sweatshirts, nonperishable food items, ice, water bottles, Gatorade, charging cables with multi-charge ports, cell phone charging cords and charging blocks, gauze, hand sanitizer, clementines or other easy bulk fruit, jugs of water, non-typical bandage sizes, pet food, baby formula, hygiene items, toiletry items, heavy trash bags, totes and boxes.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa– On April 26 th , Pottawattamie County experienced severe weather, with confirmed
tornado activity in several areas. Affected areas include western portions of Council Bluffs, northeast of Crescent, east
of McClelland, southwest of Treynor, and the city of Minden.
The City of Minden has declared a state of emergency. Pottawattamie County has declared a state of emergency, and
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Pottawattamie County.
At the time of this release, four storm-related injuries have been reported. Three individuals were treated and
released, while one remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Preliminary information indicates varying degrees of damage to approximately 120 homes and businesses in Pottawattamie County. American Red Cross established two shelters in the county that were not needed as displaced residents were able to arrange overnight accommodations.
The most concentrated damage from these weather events occurred in Minden. Gas and power utilities services have
been disrupted, and access to the city of Minden has been closed to outside traffic. A curfew has been issued for the
city of Minden between 10:00PM and 6:00AM and will remain in effect until further notice.
Beginning at 8:00AM on April 27 th , impacted residents seeking a return to Minden will be allowed admission. The
check-in location for admission will be at the Minden United Church of Christ at 106 Lincoln Street. Due to the
hazardous conditions, only residents of Minden will be granted access at this time. Officials are not currently seeking
outside volunteer assistance but will announce those opportunities in the coming days.
Ongoing disaster information can be found on Emergency Management Agency website at https://pcema-ia.org.
Community-specific information for Minden can be found on the City of Minden Facebook page, as well as the Tri-
Center Community School District Facebook page.
Damage to residential and business properties should be reported at the Emergency Management Agency website.
(Omaha, NE & Des Moines, IA) – Severe storms that fired-up in Nebraska Friday afternoon, moved northeast into Iowa, while a second batch of storms formed in southwest Iowa and moved east/northeast. Those storms packed tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds, heavy rain and large hail. Thousands of people were left without power, and there were many injured in Nebraska.
KETV in Omaha reported late Friday night, that a tornado developed right over downtown Omaha and damaged the general aviation at Eppley Airfield. The airport has since reopened. A tornado has been confirmed over Crescent, Iowa, about 10 miles northeast of Omaha. Minden, Iowa, was hit with a confirmed tornado, with multiple structures damaged or destroyed.
Homes and some businesses in Creston, Iowa, which was hit by a twister 12-years ago, sustained damage Friday evening, as well. Preliminary storm data compiled at the National Weather Service Offices in Valley, NE. and Johnston, Iowa, show there were AT LEAST 35 reports of tornadic activity.
Just before 4 p.m., Friday, a strong tornado ripped through the northwest corridor of Omaha, flattening homes in Elkhorn (NE) and causing significant damage. Separate tornadoes impacted the Nebraska towns of Bennington, Waterloo, and Blair, among others. The American Red Cross has established an emergency shelter for displaced residents.
Most notably, in Iowa:
Hail reports were extensive as well, most notably:
Storm damage assessment crews were expected to be out and about this weekend. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Friday night, issued a Disaster Proclamation for Pottawattamie County, to help residents rebuild after the storm.
DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Pottawattamie County in response to severe weather that occurred on April 26. The governor’s proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website at homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.
The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, contact your local community action association or visit iowacommunityaction.org.
You can find a copy of the proclamation here.
(Radio Iowa) – High school students got a chance to explore careers with the Iowa National Guard’s 185th Air Wing Thursday. Tech Sergeant Adam Allen is one of the guard’s recruiters.
Allen says most of the jobs are part-time, but there are also some 300 full-time jobs as well.
Sergeant Bluff Lutton senior Emmalie Gamble says the Air Guard is an option for her future.
Careers in the National Guard allow members to attend drill on training weekends, plus two weeks each year, while also attending college or working full-time at a civilian job.