Several tornadoes ripped through the Midwest on Friday night, leaving a path of destruction in Nebraska and Iowa. The Federal Emergency Management Agency reported as many as 78 potential twisters. In Omaha, Nebraska, blocks of homes in the Elkhorn neighborhood were completely destroyed and rendered uninhabitable. Residents were left shocked and devastated as they picked through the debris of their former homes.
Despite the widespread damage, there were no reported fatalities from the tornadoes. Injuries were minimal, with Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci describing them as minor. Mayor Jean Stothert declared a disaster proclamation to request aid from state and federal resources. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen pledged state resources to help those affected by the storms.
Residents in Venice, Nebraska, witnessed the terrifying force of the tornado as it struck their homes. Julie Jorgensen narrowly escaped being directly hit by the tornado, while her husband Dana took shelter in their home’s crawl space. Many residents recounted harrowing experiences of the tornado’s destructive power, including Dana, whose home’s top floor was ripped off during the storm.
In addition to residential areas, the tornadoes also impacted industrial buildings and infrastructure. An industrial building in Lancaster County collapsed with 70 people inside, though all were safely evacuated with only minor injuries. Eppley Airfield in Omaha was also struck, destroying several hangar buildings and numerous privately owned planes. However, the passenger terminal remained untouched, and the airport was able to resume operations.
Further devastation occurred in the small town of Minden, Iowa, where approximately 40 to 50 homes were completely destroyed by another tornado. While two injuries were reported, they were not life-threatening. The Minden United Church of Christ has become a center of support for residents in need, providing meals and assistance to those affected by the storms. The community rallied together to support one another in the aftermath of the disaster.
The Midwest region faced ongoing threats of severe weather, with more tornadoes and dangerous flooding expected on Saturday night. The National Weather Service cautioned that severe storms could impact 55 million people across a wide swath of the country. Parts of Oklahoma were particularly at risk of heavy rainfall, leading to concerns about flash flooding. The battered communities in the Midwest remained on high alert, bracing for the potential impact of further severe weather.
