Western Iowa could use some thoughts and prayers

Tiny Tim · April 09, 2011, 08:20:54 PM

Tonight I was sitting down for supper and to watch the race at 7:00 when we got called out to do some weather spotting. About this time, a tornado was ripping through the Mapleton and Danbury Iowa area (about 18 miles west of me). Reports I've heard are that everything from a block east of highway 141 going through Mapleton, is flattened. Thankfully, there are no reports of serious injury or death at this time.

I was 3 miles north of Schleswig, weather spotting, and saw a huge mass, about a mile wide, on the ground moving North...this was the tornado that went through there. Also, as I was spotting, the wind picked up from the east, blowing about 50-60 mph. Once that wind settled down, I went to an area where one of my friends' mother lives, and talked to my friend in her driveway. As we were talking, 2 more tornadoes touched down about 6 miles North of there, in the Arthur Iowa area. Have not heard of damage in that area.

About a third of my department has gone to Mapleton to assist with cleanup efforts, while the rest of us are sticking around here to respond to anything in our area.

Slamdunk · April 09, 2011, 08:43:42 PM

Be safe out there TT, and I'm sure I speak for a lot of folk that we hope there are no serious injuries or fatalities.

I

Tiny Tim · April 09, 2011, 08:53:15 PM

I have only heard reports of minor injuries at this time. If you look at a satellite pic of Mapleton Iowa, there's a highway that comes into town from the North, with a big right hand curve that takes it South into town. Everything from a block East of that highway is supposedly gone.

bears fan · April 09, 2011, 09:23:06 PM

Been watching it all night and it looked like you guys were getting slammed. Be safe!

Tiny Tim · April 09, 2011, 09:27:32 PM

Thanks Bears. It's settled down here now, and while our sirens blew for an hour, my town (Schleswig) has no damage. Also only hearing reports of minor injuries from the Mapleton area, just major property damage.

hal4uk · April 09, 2011, 10:05:11 PM

Good to hear no serious injury reports...
You can replace a house.

Some folks just don't realize just how much damage a tornado can do.
My mom has been through several serious hurricanes in SC and FL..
As bad as they are, a CAT4 hurricane ain't near as bad as a CAT2 tornado.
Tornadoes leave smaller "trails"... But they don't leave anything in those trails.

Y'all stay safe.
Awrighten.

La Quinta · April 10, 2011, 01:00:55 AM

Dang Tiny...be safe...We live in earthquake territory...but I think tornados are really scary...

Tiny Tim · April 10, 2011, 06:50:52 PM

Due to my information being second hand when I got it, I was mistaken on the location of the bulk of the damage. It was pretty much confined to the Southwest corner of town, but a lot of the town still has damage. About half of the town's 1200 residents were affected.

Here is a link to a video of some damage link.

and here is a link to some stills...I think at picture #25, it goes to the town of Early instead of Mapleton link.

Good news is that I was correct in that there were only minor injuries and no fatalities. Mapleton's tornado was reported as an EF3, and one that I saw near the town of Arthur (also last night) was reported to be an EF2.

bears fan · April 10, 2011, 07:38:59 PM

wow. Amazing there was no serious injuries. I hate to see all that damage, but the building can be repaired.

OU812 · April 11, 2011, 12:34:02 PM

That storm moved right North of me and to the West of me it dropped apple sized hail.

Watched the light show thinking that storm is gonna do some damage.

Good to here that the only serious injury was a broken leg.