Sunday, May 25, 2008

Damage Reports Out of Parkersburg Don't Look Good

I have been searching and Google News finally showed a story out of Parkersburg, IA. It does not look good. Unfortunetly no pictures accompany story but the article below does paint a pretty desestaiting image. Story below:

"Tornado takes out Parkersburg high school

A tornado about a mile wide left behind extensive damage, injuries and possible fatalities in northeast Iowa early this evening, officials said.The tornado ripped off the roof of the high school in Parkersburg and took out sections of the building, said Superintendent Jon Thompson.The high school will never be used again, he said.Houses to the south of the high school were also flattened, Thompson said.The parking lot at the high school was turned into a triage center, and district officials this evening opened up the middle school in Aplington and an elementary school in Parkersburg as shelters.The tornado moved between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. from Aplington to New Hartford to the north side of Waterloo and then into Dunkerton, according to Miles Schumacher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.Schumacher said more than one tornado probably touched down, but most of the damage was caused by the mile-wide tornado.The Waterloo airport reported wind speeds of 93 mph, Schumacher said.This storm system caused the most damage in Iowa so far this year. Tornadoes hit southern Iowa on April 10, causing damage but no injuries.Gary Frank, an elder at First Congregational church in Parkersburg also offered up shelter.“You can’t even tell anything has happened here, but just two blocks up the street its total devastation,” he said.The major damage occurred on the south side of the town’s main strip, Frank said. Downed power lines, roofless buildings and emergency vehicles filled the street this evening while residents remained inside. “I think people are still in a state of shock,” he said.Power lines have also been knocked down in the area, leaving many residents without power.This evening, Iowa State Patrol troopers are blocking the entrances to Parkersburg.A dispatcher with the Butler County sheriff’s department said authorities were investigating damage to a grain elevator that may have caused an anhydrous ammonia leak.
The Associated Press contributed to this article."
Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080525/NEWS/80525003/-1/SPORTS0806

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am very saddened to learn of this tragedy. I taught and Coached at that High School for a few years. I will be thinking of the families and the district that was so kind to me.

-Luke Zaccaro, Coach Z

Deanna S. said...

I live in NE Iowa and have been watching the local news reports. You're right, it doesn't look good in Parkersburg. Right now I can only point you one picture, here. I'm sure if you watch the KCRG web site, they will have pictures up tomorrow. The tornado was also caught on video, so that will probably be on the web site also. They are saying the tornaod was a mile wide, and are reporting 5 dead so far, 2 from Parkersburg. We are in for a busy night here, as there are more storms to the west, and we're under a tornado watch until 3:00am CDT. Looks like my family and I will be up all night monitoring the situation.

Deanna S. said...

They just upped the number dead to 7, and I forgot to mention in the previous post that supposedly there was grapefruit-sized hail. Scary...

Deanna S. said...

Another site just popped up under a Google search of Parkersburg + tornado. They have a small picture of the tornado here. Our local news is saying it was at least an F4 or possible F5.

Jim Sullivan said...

Yeah, I saw the video of the tornado on the live feed also, and will post it here tomorrow if it is made avalable. It is indeed very devestating what has happened in Iowa and MN this evening. It is terrible that there are already several reports of fatalities coming in. I will post more pictures and what not tomorrow morning. Everyone have a good night, stay safe, and keep Parkersburg in your prayers.

Jim Sullivan said...

Thank you for the links/pics Deanna.

Anonymous said...

I am very saddened to learn of this tragedy, I send them my best wish's

Britec - http://www.britec.org.uk

Deanna S. said...

For anyone interested, click here for some pictures of the devastation at Parkersburg and New Hartford. The pictures are sobering.