A devastating tornado wreaks havoc on Greenfield
A significant number of individuals lost their lives as a devastating tornado wreaks havoc on Greenfield, causing extensive destruction to residences, vehicles, and trees. Furthermore, the powerful winds resulted in the collapse and deformation of the colossal wind turbines located outside the town.
The tornado destroyed much of Greenfield, which is located about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines, during a day that saw multiple tornadoes, giant hail and heavy rain in several states.
After causing extensive damage and leaving over 130,000 customers without electricity in both states, the storms moved on from the town of 2,000 inhabitants and headed towards Illinois and Wisconsin, continuing to wreak havoc.
Greenfield’s hospital was among the buildings that were damaged in the town, which meant that at least a dozen people who were hurt had to be taken to facilities elsewhere, according to Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla.
“Sadly we can confirm that there have been fatalities,” Dinkla said at a news conference Tuesday night, without specifying how many. “We’re still counting at this time.”
He mentioned that they believed they had identified all the town’s inhabitants, however, search efforts would persist in case of any reported disappearances. The Adair County Health System announced through a Facebook update on Tuesday evening the establishment of a triage facility at Greenfield High School, advising individuals requiring medical assistance to head there.
The town officials have declared a compulsory curfew and specified that only Greenfield residents will be permitted entry until Wednesday morning. Additionally, they have instructed media personnel to vacate the city by Tuesday night.
After the storm, the areas where houses once stood were filled with piles of broken wood, branches, car parts, and other debris. Some trees that managed to stay standing were bare, with no branches or leaves left. The community came together to help each other gather scattered furniture and personal belongings.
Multiple tornadoes were reported throughout the state, and one also apparently took down several 250-foot (76-meter) wind turbines in southwest Iowa. Some of the turbines caught fire, sending plumes of smoke into the air.
Wind turbines are designed to withstand tornadoes, hurricanes, and other powerful winds. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the turbines are set to shut down when wind speeds exceed certain limits, typically around 55 mph (89 kph). They also automatically adjust their blades to align with the direction of the wind, minimizing strain on the turbines.
In southwestern Iowa, video posted to social media showed a tornado just northwest of Red Oak. Farther east and north, the National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings for areas near the towns of Griswold, Corning, Fontanelle and Guthrie Center, among others.
Authorities in Illinois were forced to close sections of two interstates due to poor visibility caused by dust storms. The McLean area experienced strong wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 45 mph (74 kph), as reported by Chuck Schaffer, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
Deadly storms struck the Houston area in Texas last week, leading to the unfortunate loss of at least eight lives. The severe weather caused power outages that lasted for several days, leaving numerous residents without electricity and air conditioning during the hot and humid conditions. Tragically, the death toll increased from seven to eight on Tuesday, as it was discovered that a man had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while utilizing a generator following the power outage. Additionally, the hurricane-force winds caused significant destruction, resulting in the devastation of businesses, structures, and the shattering of glass in downtown skyscrapers.