A devastating EF-4 tornado ripped through the small city of Greenfield, Iowa, destroying over 202 homes and claiming the lives of four people while injuring at least 35. The destructive power of the tornado was evident in the mile-long swath of destruction that left behind a shattered mess of splintered homes, smashed vehicles, and shredded trees. Homes and lives were shattered in just one minute as the tornado packed peak winds of 175-185 mph, leaving the community of 2,000 residents in shock.
Among those killed were Dean and Pam Wiggins, described as incredibly loved by not only their family but the entire town. The tornado demolished their home, leaving little more than the structure’s foundation. Residents like Bill Yount described the destruction as if a bomb had gone off, gesturing to the land covered with wood, debris, and trees stripped of their leaves. Many homes were destroyed, leaving only foundations behind, while others seemed untouched, leaving residents grateful for their survival.
Residents like 80-year-old Edith Schaecher and her daughter were briefly trapped in their collapsed home and sought shelter in a basement concrete shower to protect themselves from falling debris. 57-year-old Joan Mitchell and her son survived the tornado after she was knocked to the floor and two recliners flew on top of her. The devastation prompted Governor Kim Reynolds to request a disaster declaration for multiple counties from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and praised their response to the situation.
Severe weather continued to plague the Midwest with a potential for additional tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, and large hail as another storm system moved through Nebraska and western Iowa. Residents were warned about the dangers of sleeping through the overnight storms, which could cause further damage to already devastated homes and communities. The destruction in Greenfield set a new record as the deadliest tornado of 2024, surpassing the previous record set by a tornado in Logan County, Ohio, earlier in the year.
Iowa has recorded the highest number of tornadoes in the country, with 81 confirmed twisters this year. The Greenfield tornado, originally rated an EF-3, was later upgraded to an EF-4, making it the third EF-4 tornado of 2024. The historic tornado season in the U.S. has seen 859 confirmed tornadoes, 27% more than the average, with April marking the second-highest number of tornadoes on record. The devastation caused by these storms highlights the importance of preparedness and response in the face of increasingly severe weather patterns due to climate change.
