GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A tornado ripped through Greenfield, causing multiple fatalities and leaving behind a trail of destruction that included demolished homes, crushed cars, and splintered trees. The powerful winds also damaged massive wind turbines outside the town.
The storms then moved eastward, hitting parts of Illinois and Wisconsin and cutting power to over 130,000 customers in those states. A dozen injured individuals from Greenfield had to be transported to other facilities due to damage to the town’s hospital, according to Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla.
Dinkla confirmed the presence of fatalities in a news conference but did not provide a specific number, stating that the count was ongoing. Search operations would continue if any residents were reported missing. The Adair County Health System set up a triage center at Greenfield High School for those needing medical attention.
The tornado devastated much of Greenfield, located about 55 miles southwest of Des Moines, amidst a day of severe weather that included multiple tornadoes, large hail, and heavy rain across several states.
Authorities imposed a mandatory curfew in Greenfield, allowing only residents to enter the town until the following morning. Media representatives were also asked to leave the city on Tuesday night.
The aftermath of the storm left debris such as broken wood, branches, car parts, and other items scattered across lots where houses once stood. Residents worked together to salvage belongings from the wreckage.
Rogue Paxton, who took shelter in his basement during the storm, described the damage to his own home and his brother’s house. He expressed gratitude for the community coming together to support each other during the challenging times.
Multiple tornadoes were reported in the state, with some damaging 250-foot wind turbines in southwest Iowa. Despite being built to withstand extreme weather, some of the turbines caught fire.
Greenfield, known for its tree-lined streets, was promoted as a welcoming community prior to the storm. Mary Long, owner of Long’s Market, recounted her experience of the tornado passing through the historic town square relatively unscathed.
State Governor Kim Reynolds planned to visit Greenfield the next day, acknowledging the resilience of Iowans in the face of repeated severe weather events.
The storms continued to Wisconsin later in the day, triggering warnings for areas near Griswold, Corning, Fontanelle, and Guthrie Center. Iowa had been on high alert for severe weather, with the Storm Prediction Center issuing warnings for strong tornadoes.
The severe weather also impacted Nebraska, where sirens and power outages were reported in Omaha. Illinois faced dust storms leading to the closure of highway stretches due to low visibility. Previous days had seen extreme weather affecting the central US, with Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Texas experiencing damaging storms and tornadoes.
The National Weather Service forecasted further severe weather moving south into parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Missouri.
McFetridge reported from Des Moines and Beck reported from Omaha. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis, Josh Funk in Omaha, Colleen Slevin in Denver, and Juan Lozano in Houston contributed.
