(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.
These are the latest reports in to the NWS in Valley/Omaha, NE (as of 6:14-p.,., 4/26/24)
Time/date Event /remarks City/County location Lat.Lon/Source
0819 PM Tornado 4 W Cumming 41.48N 93.84W 04/26/2024 Madison IA Mesonet Tornadic debris signature noted on radar. 0818 PM Tornado 2 S Patterson 41.32N 93.88W 04/26/2024 Madison IA Trained Spotter Reported to the south of Patterson. 0803 PM Hail Mount Ayr 40.71N 94.24W 04/26/2024 M3.00 Inch Ringgold IA CO-OP Observer 0758 PM Tornado 5 W East Peru 41.24N 94.02W 04/26/2024 Madison IA Emergency Mngr Tornado near Word of Life Church. 0754 PM Tornado 2 W Afton 41.03N 94.23W 04/26/2024 Union IA Law Enforcement Large tornado near Afton moving northeast. Debris field reported with damage. 0728 PM Tornado 4 WNW Afton 41.06N 94.27W 04/26/2024 Union IA Trained Spotter Trained spotter reported tornado on the ground east of Creston. Time and location estimated from radar. 0728 PM Hail 2 SSW Delphos 40.64N 94.36W 04/26/2024 E1.00 Inch Ringgold IA Trained Spotter 0725 PM Tornado 4 WNW Afton 41.05N 94.27W 04/26/2024 Union IA Dept of Highways Power poles with debris on US Highway 34 between Creston and Afton. Highway is closed. 0715 PM Tornado 6 NE Creston 41.13N 94.29W 04/26/2024 Union IA Emergency Mngr Tornado reported to the southwest of Macksburg. 0710 PM Tornado 3 NE Lenox 40.91N 94.52W 04/26/2024 Adams IA Emergency Mngr near 205th and Highway 25. 0709 PM Tornado Creston 41.06N 94.36W 04/26/2024 Union IA Emergency Mngr Tornado with debris near the hospital in Creston. 0704 PM Tornado 2 WSW Creston 41.05N 94.40W 04/26/2024 Union IA Trained Spotter Tornado on the ground, heading northeast. 0658 PM Tornado 2 W Manilla 41.89N 95.27W 04/26/2024 Crawford IA Storm Chaser Storm chaser shared a picture of a tornado just west of Manilla. 0608 PM Hail 1 SE Clarinda 40.72N 95.02W 04/26/2024 M1.00 Inch Page IA CO-OP Observer 0606 PM Tornado 2 W Harlan 41.65N 95.37W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Trained Spotter Home destroyed. 0605 PM Tornado 2 W Harlan 41.65N 95.37W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Public Significant damage between Portsmith and Harlan. Destroyed home, cars flipped. 0605 PM Tornado 3 W Harlan 41.65N 95.38W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Storm Chaser Multi vortex tornado. 0559 PM Tornado Tennant 41.59N 95.44W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Broadcast Media 0557 PM Tornado 3 S Tennant 41.56N 95.45W 04/26/2024 Shelby IA Law Enforcement Multiple destroyed outbuildings and a home that lost a roof. Time estimated from radar. 0550 PM Tornado 1 WSW Shelby 41.50N 95.48W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser Very large tornado crossing Interstate 80. 0547 PM Tornado 2 ENE Minden 41.48N 95.50W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr Very large multi vortex tornado. At least 1/3 mile wide. 0545 PM Tornado 1 NE Minden 41.48N 95.52W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser Large tornado destroying homes. 0541 PM Tornado Minden 41.47N 95.54W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr Very large tornado. 0541 PM Tornado 4 ESE Logan 41.62N 95.73W 0455 PM Hail 1 NW Carter Lake 41.30N 95.94W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Douglas NE Public 04/26/2024 Harrison IA Storm Chaser 0540 PM Tornado 3 ESE Neola 41.43N 95.57W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser 0533 PM Tornado 2 SE Underwood 41.37N 95.65W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0528 PM Tornado 3 SE Underwood 41.36N 95.65W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0520 PM Tornado 7 WNW Neola 41.48N 95.75W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Trained Spotter 0505 PM Tornado 3 NNE Pisgah 41.87N 95.91W 04/26/2024 Monona IA Storm Chaser 0514 PM Tornado 6 WSW Treynor 41.19N 95.70W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0513 PM Tornado 6 W Treynor 41.23N 95.73W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Storm Chaser 0509 PM Tornado 7 SE Council Bluffs 41.17N 95.75W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Trained Spotter 0507 PM Tornado 1 S Crescent 41.36N 95.86W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0501 PM Tornado 3 ENE Carter Lake 41.30N 95.87W 04/26/2024 Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0457 PM Tornado 2 NNW Pacific Junction 41.04N 95.82W 04/26/2024 Mills IA Trained Spotter 0455 PM Hail Carter Lake 41.29N 95.91W 04/26/2024 E1.75 Inch Pottawattamie IA Emergency Mngr 0435 PM Tornado Modale 41.62N 96.01W 04/26/2024 Harrison IA Trained Spotter 0420 PM Tornado 5 SSW Modale 41.55N 96.04W 04/26/2024 Harrison IA Trained Spotter 1255 PM Hail 3 E Dedham 41.90N 94.76W 04/26/2024 M0.88 Inch Carroll IA Trained Spotter Large quantity of dime to nickel sized hail.
Clear Lake junior Reese Brownlee won the girls high school long jump. Her winning leap of 18 feet three- and three-quarter inches came on her final attempt.
The competition finished moments before the meet was shut down for an 89-minute weather delay.
Iowa Falls-Alden senior Jaden Damiano(dah-me-ah-noh) set a Drake Relays record in winning the boys’ 110 hurdles. Damiano’s winning time was 13-point-84 seconds.
Damiano says the weather conditions did not bother him.
Less than a year after suffering an ACL injury Emma Havighurst is a Drake Relays champion. The junior from West Des Mines Valley won the girls’ 100 meter hurdles.
Havighurst says a good start was a key.
Clear Lake junior Reese Brownlee won the girls high school long jump. Her winning leap of 18 feet three and three quarter inches came on her final attempt.
The competition finished moments before the meet was shutdown for an 89 minute weather delay.
LILA MAE KELLEY, 85 of Jacksonville, Iowa died Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. A visitation for LILA KELLEY, with family greeting friends, will be held from 4-until 7-p.m. Tuesday, April 30th, with a Prayer Service at 6:30-p.m. The visitation and Prayer service will be held at the C G Therkildsen Activity Center, in Harlan. Heartland Funeral & Cremation Services in Harlan has the arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the family, in honor of Lila.
Lila Kelley is survived by:
Her husband – Perry Kelley, Sr., of Walnut.
Her sons – Perry Kelley, Jr. (& wife Mary Ellen), and Jerry (Karen) Kelley, all of Harlan; and Larry Kelley, of Council Bluffs.
Her daughter – Connie (Kevin ) Paulsen, of Anita.
5 grandchildren, 2 step-children, 8 great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; her in-laws, other relatives and friends.