5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through Iowa, officials say

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Damaged cars sit piled up next to a road after a tornado Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Local residents hug in front of their tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The twister that tore through the city on Tuesday was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Tornado damaged property is seen, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.

The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.

The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled classes for Thursday and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

The remains of a tornado-damaged wind turbine touch the ground in a field, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, near Prescott, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines several miles outside the city.

Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hasn’t really set in, she said.

“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Local residents hug in front of their tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The deadly twister was spawned during a historic tornado season in the U.S., at a time when climate change is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.

Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.

On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.

Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers in the two states.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

This satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology satellite on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, shows the damage a tornado caused when it tore through Greenfield, Iowa, a day prior, Tuesday, May 21. (BlackSky Technology via AP)

The National Weather Service said initial surveys indicated at least an EF-3 tornado in Greenfield, but additional damage assessment could lead to a more powerful ranking.

The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.

“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Tornado damaged property is seen, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.

About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks with a worker at a command station after touring tornado damage, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

A man sorts through the remains of a home damaged by a tornado Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Workers search through the remains of tornado-damaged homes, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, and at least a dozen people who were hurt had to be taken to facilities elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the hospital will remain closed and that full repairs could take weeks or months. An urgent care clinic was set up at an elementary school with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Kimberly Ergish holds flowers as she cleans out belongs from her tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many of the homes' basements where residents sheltered lay exposed and front yards were littered with belongings from furniture to children's toys and Christmas decorations.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

A woman walks out of the basement of a tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in her basement. Seconds later, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Debris from tornado damaged homes is seen, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

___

Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

A man talks on his cell phone in front of a tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Local residents clean up debris from a tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Local residents clean out their tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

A worker fixes a line above debris from tornado damaged homes, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

A man takes a photo in front of a tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

A flag hangs in a tree near tornado damaged homes, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

5 dead and nearly 3 dozen hurt in tornadoes that tore through iowa, officials say

Workers survey the damage of a tornado damaged home, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

OTHER NEWS

2 hrs ago

PH looks laid-back on green goals compared with neighbors

3 hrs ago

Cebu urban poor group opposes Marcos’ high-rise housing project

3 hrs ago

Residential fire in Las Piñas City reaches 2nd alarm

3 hrs ago

DOH exec wants anti-vax campaign of US Pentagon uncovered

3 hrs ago

This West Hollywood Italian Deli Assembles Paninis With the Precision of a Surgeon

3 hrs ago

In the trenches: how to buy a runway-ready secondhand coat

3 hrs ago

House to prioritize tackling of proposed P6.2 trillion budget for 2025

3 hrs ago

Speaker: House, Senate nearing agreement on RTL amendments

4 hrs ago

Meralco rates down in June

4 hrs ago

Billie Eilish Becomes the 3rd and Youngest Artist to Reach 100M Monthly Spotify Listeners

4 hrs ago

Gerrit Cole could be ready to rejoin New York rotation, though Yankees not ready to commit

4 hrs ago

PH goes to UN body to seek extension of continental shelf

4 hrs ago

Three keys to Texas Longhorns winning the College Football Playoff

4 hrs ago

Metro Manila wage board set to convene anew June 20

4 hrs ago

What Is the Average Credit Score for the Middle Class and Upper Middle Class?

4 hrs ago

Fed meeting, benign inflation keep soft-landing hopes alive

5 hrs ago

Cabalantian rising

5 hrs ago

Minus equestrian, pentathlon opens Olympic path for PH athletes

5 hrs ago

FEU's Pre grateful to be coached by lolo's favorite import

5 hrs ago

Bohol prov’l board member wants to stop cloud seeding: It’s rainy season

5 hrs ago

Who Is Patton Oswalt's Wife? All About Meredith Salenger

5 hrs ago

From a national title at Michigan to coaching together in LA, a special Father's Day for the Minters

5 hrs ago

Gagate leads PVL draft applicants

6 hrs ago

PAOCC preparing nonbailable cases vs Guo, others

6 hrs ago

Ang INK explores 'Worlds Within Worlds'

6 hrs ago

MMDA lifts number coding for June 17

6 hrs ago

Charlie Dizon grateful for God’s timing a week after wedding to Carlo Aquino

6 hrs ago

Fuel prices may increase by up to P2 this week

6 hrs ago

Kathryn Bernardo, Marian Rivera, among nominees in 7th Eddys

6 hrs ago

German Embassy asks PH to review freezing of accounts of a Leyte NGO

6 hrs ago

Magsayo wins via UD vs Mexican fighter

6 hrs ago

Dembélé says he performs better at PSG because of Luis Enrique and physios

6 hrs ago

Zelensky seeks internationally agreed peace plan to present to Russia

7 hrs ago

Southwest Monsoon to bring rain showers over parts of Luzon, Visayas

7 hrs ago

This Electric Spin Scrubber Is So Powerful, It Removed Grout Stains My Professional Cleaners Couldn’t

7 hrs ago

Alex Cora fires shot at Red Sox fans but for good reason

7 hrs ago

The Decemberists' Colin Meloy Is Fine With the Long Wait for The Group's New Album, But Isn't So Sure His Dream Is Still to Write With Morrissey

7 hrs ago

Letitia James Scores New $50m Win

7 hrs ago

2024 U.S. Open tee times, pairings: Complete schedule on TV, groups for Round 4 on Sunday at Pinehurst

7 hrs ago

Magsayo, Mexican foe makes weight for WBA regional title duel in Las Vegas