The Iowa State Patrol confirmed multiple fatalities in Greenfield after a tornado blew through the Adair County town Tuesday afternoon.Sgt. Alex Dinkla made the announcement in a news conference Tuesday night in the town of about 2,000 people, but said an official number won't be released until Wednesday. Watch: KCCI's Alyssa Gomez reports from Greenfield after deadly tornado hits town Dinkla said that while officials believed everyone was accounted for, search efforts are ongoing as a measure of “due diligence.” He said about a dozen people were transported with injuries.In the aftermath of the storm, parts of the town appeared devastated. Mounds of broken wood, branches, car parts and other debris littered lots where homes once stood. Cars lay busted and bent while damaged houses sat skewed against the gray and overcast sky. Trees stood — barely — bereft of branches or leaves. Residents helped each other salvage furniture and other belongings from mounds of debris or from homes barely left standing. Gov. Kim Reynolds visits GreenfieldIowa's governor was in Greenfield Wednesday morning to see the damage."Kevin’s and my prayers are with all the communities and families impacted by today’s severe weather, and especially those who tragically lost their lives in the Greenfield area," Reynolds said in a statement ahead of her visit. "I am committed to providing the full resources of the state to support the response and recovery effort."You can watch Reynolds' news conference Wednesday morning here.WATCH: Full news conference after deadly Greenfield tornadoFontanelle resident Donnell Griffith, whose husband owns Griff's Garage in Greenfield, said despite the destruction, the small community is resilient."We're a small community, we're a tough community... we will rebuild this community together," she said. "We're small but we're mighty."Griff's Garage was among the structures in the town that was leveled by the tornado. Griffith said her husband was not in the garage when it was hit.Dinkla announced a mandatory curfew in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday, and likely for several days to come. The only people who will be allowed into the city of Greenfield, Dinkla said, are those who have Greenfield addresses on their IDs.There is also a reunification point for survivors at Nodaway Valley High School, located at 410 NW 2nd St. in Greenfield, which will also serve as a temporary shelter for city residents. WATCH: Greenfield tornado: Adair County hospital evacuatedThe Adair County Health System hospital in Greenfield was damaged in the storm, but Mercy One spokesman Todd Mizener said he had no further details. The hospital is affiliated with Mercy One."The MercyOne family is heartbroken by Tuesday's devastating storm that impacted Greenfield, Iowa," Mizener said. "We are working collaboratively with resources on site to ensure the well-being of our colleagues, partners, and communities."Dinkla confirmed a retirement center was hit by the tornado as well, but he did not know if it resulted in any injuries.More coverage of the May 21, 2024 storms: Video: Tornado touches down in Adams County, toppling wind turbinesVideo: Apparent tornado topples truck on Iowa highwayViewers capture video of tornadoes that ripped through southwest Iowa"The Greenfield community has shown incredible unity during this challenging time," Dinkla said. "With neighbors and friends displaying remarkable compassion, empathy and support. The Greenfield community has a long road ahead of them, but if their actions today are any indication of what lies ahead, they will emerge stronger and more united than ever." WATCH: Greenfield business owner says, 'We will rebuild the community together' Greenfield resident Valerie Warrior was out riding her bike when the storm approached the town. She said she got home quickly and hunkered down in her basem*nt as the tornado passed over. She described to KCCI what she saw when she emerged after the storm."There's houses down all over the place," she said. "Devastating."WATCH: Drone video shows destruction, path of Greenfield, Iowa tornadoCamille Blair said the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce office where she works closed around 2 p.m. ahead of the storm. She emerged from her home to describe widespread damage and scattered debris.“There’s a pretty significant roof damage to several houses that I know will need whole new roofs," she said. "And I can see from my house it kind of went in a straight line down the road.”WATCH: Greenfield resident describes moments when tornado swept through townMary Long, the owner of Long’s Market in downtown Greenfield, said she rode out the storm at her business in the community’s historic town square, which largely escaped damage. Long said there appeared to be widespread damage on the east and south sides of town.“I could hear this roaring, like the proverbial freight train, and then it was just done,” she said.A disaster proclamation has been authorized by Gov. Kim Reynolds for 15 counties impacted by Tuesday's devastating severe weather.The disaster proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for storm victims. The counties included in the proclamation are: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clay, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Montgomery, Page, Palo Alto, Pottawattamie, Tama, and Warren Counties. On Tuesday night, Reynolds released a statement of support for those impacted by the storms, adding that she plans to visit Greenfield Wednesday morning to assess the damage and assist in the recovery process. This was her statement:“Kevin’s and my prayers are with all the communities and families impacted by today’s severe weather, and especially those who tragically lost their lives in the Greenfield area. I am committed to providing the full resources of the state to support the response and recovery effort. “State and local officials are on the ground, assessing the situation and setting up temporary shelters for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. First responders and health care providers are onsite caring for the injured. Utility crews are working to restore service to thousands without power, and the State Emergency Operations Center continues to coordinate missions to support local responders. While it’s too soon to know the storm’s full impact, answers will come in the hours and days ahead. “It was just a few weeks ago that tornadoes hit several other Iowa communities, and it’s hard to believe that it’s happened again. Iowans are strong and resilient, and we will get through this together."The storm also damaged several wind turbines in southwest Iowa. In Adams County, at least three 250-foot wind turbines were nearly snapped in half, with at least one catching fire.A spokesman for MidAmerican Energy Company, which owns and operates several wind farms across the state, confirmed that the Adams County turbines are not owned or operated by MidAmerican. The company does, however, own several turbines that were severely damaged in Adair County. Wind farms are built to withstand tornadoes, hurricanes and other powerful winds. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, turbines are designed shut off when winds exceed certain thresholds, typically around 55 mph. They also lock and feather their blades, and turn into the wind, to minimize the strain.
GREENFIELD, Iowa —
The Iowa State Patrol confirmed multiple fatalities in Greenfield after a tornado blew through the Adair County town Tuesday afternoon.
Sgt. Alex Dinkla made the announcement in a news conference Tuesday night in the town of about 2,000 people, but said an official number won't be released until Wednesday.
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Watch: KCCI's Alyssa Gomez reports from Greenfield after deadly tornado hits town
Dinkla said that while officials believed everyone was accounted for, search efforts are ongoing as a measure of “due diligence.” He said about a dozen people were transported with injuries.
In the aftermath of the storm, parts of the town appeared devastated. Mounds of broken wood, branches, car parts and other debris littered lots where homes once stood. Cars lay busted and bent while damaged houses sat skewed against the gray and overcast sky. Trees stood — barely — bereft of branches or leaves. Residents helped each other salvage furniture and other belongings from mounds of debris or from homes barely left standing.
Gov. Kim Reynolds visits Greenfield
Iowa's governor was in Greenfield Wednesday morning to see the damage.
"Kevin’s and my prayers are with all the communities and families impacted by today’s severe weather, and especially those who tragically lost their lives in the Greenfield area," Reynolds said in a statement ahead of her visit. "I am committed to providing the full resources of the state to support the response and recovery effort."
You can watch Reynolds' news conference Wednesday morning here.
WATCH: Full news conference after deadly Greenfield tornado
Fontanelle resident Donnell Griffith, whose husband owns Griff's Garage in Greenfield, said despite the destruction, the small community is resilient.
"We're a small community, we're a tough community... we will rebuild this community together," she said. "We're small but we're mighty."
Griff's Garage was among the structures in the town that was leveled by the tornado. Griffith said her husband was not in the garage when it was hit.
Dinkla announced a mandatory curfew in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday, and likely for several days to come. The only people who will be allowed into the city of Greenfield, Dinkla said, are those who have Greenfield addresses on their IDs.
There is also a reunification point for survivors at Nodaway Valley High School, located at 410 NW 2nd St. in Greenfield, which will also serve as a temporary shelter for city residents.
WATCH: Greenfield tornado: Adair County hospital evacuated
The Adair County Health System hospital in Greenfield was damaged in the storm, but Mercy One spokesman Todd Mizener said he had no further details. The hospital is affiliated with Mercy One.
"The MercyOne family is heartbroken by Tuesday's devastating storm that impacted Greenfield, Iowa," Mizener said. "We are working collaboratively with resources on site to ensure the well-being of our colleagues, partners, and communities."
Dinkla confirmed a retirement center was hit by the tornado as well, but he did not know if it resulted in any injuries.
More coverage of the May 21, 2024 storms:
- Video: Tornado touches down in Adams County, toppling wind turbines
- Video: Apparent tornado topples truck on Iowa highway
- Viewers capture video of tornadoes that ripped through southwest Iowa
"The Greenfield community has shown incredible unity during this challenging time," Dinkla said. "With neighbors and friends displaying remarkable compassion, empathy and support. The Greenfield community has a long road ahead of them, but if their actions today are any indication of what lies ahead, they will emerge stronger and more united than ever."
WATCH: Greenfield business owner says, 'We will rebuild the community together'
Greenfield resident Valerie Warrior was out riding her bike when the storm approached the town. She said she got home quickly and hunkered down in her basem*nt as the tornado passed over. She described to KCCI what she saw when she emerged after the storm.
"There's houses down all over the place," she said. "Devastating."
WATCH: Drone video shows destruction, path of Greenfield, Iowa tornado
Camille Blair said the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce office where she works closed around 2 p.m. ahead of the storm. She emerged from her home to describe widespread damage and scattered debris.
“There’s a pretty significant roof damage to several houses that I know will need whole new roofs," she said. "And I can see from my house it kind of went in a straight line down the road.”
WATCH: Greenfield resident describes moments when tornado swept through town
Mary Long, the owner of Long’s Market in downtown Greenfield, said she rode out the storm at her business in the community’s historic town square, which largely escaped damage. Long said there appeared to be widespread damage on the east and south sides of town.
“I could hear this roaring, like the proverbial freight train, and then it was just done,” she said.
A disaster proclamation has been authorized by Gov. Kim Reynolds for 15 counties impacted by Tuesday's devastating severe weather.
The disaster proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for storm victims. The counties included in the proclamation are: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clay, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Montgomery, Page, Palo Alto, Pottawattamie, Tama, and Warren Counties.
On Tuesday night, Reynolds released a statement of support for those impacted by the storms, adding that she plans to visit Greenfield Wednesday morning to assess the damage and assist in the recovery process. This was her statement:
“Kevin’s and my prayers are with all the communities and families impacted by today’s severe weather, and especially those who tragically lost their lives in the Greenfield area. I am committed to providing the full resources of the state to support the response and recovery effort.
“State and local officials are on the ground, assessing the situation and setting up temporary shelters for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. First responders and health care providers are onsite caring for the injured. Utility crews are working to restore service to thousands without power, and the State Emergency Operations Center continues to coordinate missions to support local responders. While it’s too soon to know the storm’s full impact, answers will come in the hours and days ahead.
“It was just a few weeks ago that tornadoes hit several other Iowa communities, and it’s hard to believe that it’s happened again. Iowans are strong and resilient, and we will get through this together."
Hearst Owned
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Hearst Owned
The storm also damaged several wind turbines in southwest Iowa. In Adams County, at least three 250-foot wind turbines were nearly snapped in half, with at least one catching fire.
A spokesman for MidAmerican Energy Company, which owns and operates several wind farms across the state, confirmed that the Adams County turbines are not owned or operated by MidAmerican. The company does, however, own several turbines that were severely damaged in Adair County.
Wind farms are built to withstand tornadoes, hurricanes and other powerful winds. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, turbines are designed shut off when winds exceed certain thresholds, typically around 55 mph. They also lock and feather their blades, and turn into the wind, to minimize the strain.
