Greenfield, Iowa – Five people tragically lost their lives and at least 35 individuals sustained injuries as powerful tornadoes swept through Iowa on Tuesday. One particularly devastating twister tore through the town of Greenfield, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, according to officials.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety reported that four individuals lost their lives in the Greenfield area due to the tornado, with an additional person – a woman whose car was swept away by a twister 40 kilometers away from Greenfield – also succumbing to the storm. The names of the victims were withheld pending family notifications.
The aftermath of the Greenfield tornado showed a wide path of demolished homes, uprooted trees, and mangled vehicles throughout the small town of 2,000 residents. The destructive force of the tornado extended beyond the town, damaging massive wind turbines located several kilometers away.
Residents like Kimberly Ergish, 33, and her husband found themselves sifting through the remnants of their home, salvaging what little they could amidst the devastation. Despite the loss, Ergish expressed disbelief that the disaster had actually occurred, stating, “If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen.”
In the wake of the Iowa tornadoes, severe weather also impacted parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, causing power outages for thousands of customers. The U.S. National Weather Service issued tornado and flash flood warnings for Texas as the storm system moved southward. Initial assessments indicated the Greenfield tornado as at least an EF-3, but further evaluation could potentially upgrade its intensity.
AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist, Jon Porter, highlighted the catastrophic nature of the tornado’s impact on Greenfield, noting that debris was lifted thousands of feet into the air and carried for miles. Homeowners in Ames, Iowa, located more than 140 kilometers away from Greenfield, discovered items like family photos and school memorabilia that the tornado had transported across great distances.
Among the buildings affected by the storms was Greenfield’s 25-bed hospital, necessitating the transfer of injured individuals to other medical facilities. The hospital’s closure for repairs was announced on social media, with officials estimating a lengthy timeline for full restoration.
As communities in Iowa grappled with the aftermath of the tornado, residents like Dwight Lahey, a retired truck driver, stepped in to assist family members in recovering from the disaster. Lahey recounted the harrowing experience of his 98-year-old mother surviving the tornado in her basement before traversing the wreckage to seek shelter at a nearby establishment. The future for many affected residents remains uncertain, as they confront the monumental task of rebuilding their lives amidst the devastation.
The resilience and solidarity displayed by Greenfield residents in the face of overwhelming loss serve as a reminder of the unwavering spirit of community in times of adversity.