Officials said that a powerful tornado in Iowa killed seven people on Saturday night and left six others with severe injuries.
Although the National Weather Service has not confirmed the apparent tornado in Madison County, Iowa as such, federal forecasters stated that images of the damage indicate it to be at least an EF3 tornado. This would mean minimum-force winds of 158 mph.
Search and rescue efforts were stopped for the evening and volunteers were requested to arrive in the morning to determine if there were more victims or injuries, Diogenes Ayala (director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency) said at a press conference on Saturday.
Ayala stated that this is the worst tornado damage she’s seen in Madison County, and worst anyone has ever seen in quite some time.
Iowa Gov. Late Saturday, Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation to the county. It stated that it could help free up state funds for recovery and response.
Reynolds released a statement saying that “our hearts go out to everyone affected by the deadly hurricanes that tore through this state today.” “… While our hearts are broken, I know Iowans will come together and help in this time. They already are.”
She stated that declarations might be required for other counties, as damage assessments continue.
Officials estimate that as many as 30 homes were destroyed in the tornado’s destructive force. The tornado caused widespread destruction throughout the county. Officials from the National Weather Service were expected to visit the site on Sunday to confirm that the tornado touched down and to determine its force.
According to the emergency management agency, four adults were admitted to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Three of them had serious injuries.
Mike Lamb, Emergency Management Coordinator in Lucas County, told NBC News one person was killed and another severely injured. He said that a few people sustained minor injuries.
He said that powerlines and trees had been down, and there was also “significant utility damage.”
In Polk County, two people were also hurt, Dutch Geisinger (deputy director of the Emergency Management Agency of the County) said in a press release.
He said that debris, standing water, and dead powerlines were blocking roads and creating unsafe travel conditions.
Officials said that the damage from the storm at 4:30 p.m. was centered around a road about 45 miles south-southwest Des Moines.
Saturday night’s unsettled atmosphere was caused by a series storms in the Midwest. This is the reverse side of the cold front to the north.
The Weather Service warned of severe weather in south-central Iowa, northern Missouri. This included damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.
High winds and the apparent tornado could have caused traffic problems and prevented traffic from moving in the area due to downed trees and lines.
Saturday night saw more than 6,200 Iowa utility customers without power.
