A powerful tornado hit the small town of Greenfield, Iowa, resulting in multiple deaths and at least a dozen injuries. The tornado destroyed much of the town, including a hospital, with patients having to be transferred to nearby facilities. Residents helped each other salvage belongings from the destroyed homes and debris. Multiple tornadoes were reported throughout the state, with one taking down several wind turbines, causing fires and sending plumes of smoke into the air. The town of Greenfield, known for its friendly atmosphere and community spirit, was left devastated after the storm.
In the aftermath of the tornado, parts of Greenfield were left in ruins, with mounds of broken wood, car parts, and debris littering the area. Despite the devastation, residents came together to help each other and begin the process of rebuilding. Mary Long, the owner of Long’s Market, described the sound of the tornado passing through as similar to a freight train. The storm largely spared the historic town square, but caused widespread damage on the east and south sides of town. Camille Blair of the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce described the damage as significant, with many homes needing new roofs and debris scattered around the town.
The storm passed through multiple states, with tornado warnings issued for areas near other towns in Iowa. Des Moines public schools ended classes early and canceled evening activities in anticipation of the severe weather. Nebraska also experienced high winds, large hail, and power outages, with firefighters having to rescue people from stranded vehicles. In Illinois, dust storms from wind gusts forced authorities to close stretches of interstates due to low visibility. The storms followed days of extreme weather in the middle of the country, with Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado also experiencing severe weather.
The storms affected not only the Midwest but also other regions, with Wisconsin experiencing tornado warnings for the state’s capital city of Madison. Days earlier, devastating storms hit the Houston area in Texas, resulting in at least eight deaths and widespread power outages. The storms left buildings destroyed and caused power outages for hundreds of thousands of residents. The storms in Iowa and the surrounding states were part of a larger system that brought high winds, heavy rain, and large hail to several areas, with further severe weather expected in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Missouri.
The storms that swept through Iowa and other states were part of a larger pattern of extreme weather that has affected the central United States. Multiple rounds of storms have caused significant damage, power outages, and fatalities. The severe weather has impacted communities, businesses, and infrastructure throughout the region. Despite the devastation, residents have come together to support each other and begin the process of recovery. As the storms continue to move through the region, authorities are preparing for potential further damage and working to keep residents safe amidst the ongoing severe weather conditions.
