A powerful tornado struck the farming town of Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday, claiming four lives and injuring at least 35 residents, according to Iowa authorities. The tornado wreaked havoc, reducing homes and other buildings to twisted rubble and leaving the tight-knit community of 2,000 people devastated.
Officials are still assessing the full extent of the property damage in Greenfield, located approximately 97 kilometers southwest of Des Moines, the state capital. The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced the casualties at the end of a day filled with frantic rescue efforts, as teams combed through debris in search of potential survivors trapped in the aftermath of the deadly twister.
\"When we have this many homes that have been destroyed, fully demolished, we want to make sure every person is accounted for,\" said Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla during a morning news conference.
Details surrounding the four storm-related fatalities remain scarce, as authorities withhold their identities pending notification of next of kin. Of the 35 reported injured, at least 14 were transported to out-of-county hospitals for treatment, with officials noting that the actual number of those hurt could be higher.
Images from Greenfield depict widespread destruction, including homes splintered, uprooted trees, crushed vehicles, and scattered debris. Several large wind turbines on the town’s outskirts were either toppled or broken in two.
Governor Kim Reynolds described the scene as \"horrific\" and declared a disaster emergency for 15 counties. The tornado was part of a series that affected southwestern Iowa on Tuesday afternoon and evening, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency reporting 23 potential tornadoes, mostly in Iowa.
State officials are preparing a request for President Joe Biden to approve a disaster declaration, aiming to secure federal assistance for those affected.
Among the damaged structures was a local hospital, prompting authorities to establish a makeshift medical center at a lumberyard and transfer some of the injured to other facilities. State Representative Ray Sorensen highlighted community resilience, sharing how residents used their own vehicles to transport injured individuals to safety, including rescuing someone trapped in rubble and moving them to a truck.
Severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds are forecasted for Wednesday across the Southern Plains, including tornado watches for much of Texas, parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The National Weather Service also reported at least three tornadoes in Texas on Wednesday evening, with no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. Additionally, another storm system could spawn tornadoes in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
