The damage caused by the tornadoes of Iowa are "catastrophic" in Marshalltown; Pella maker takes "direct hit"

UPDATE, 9:15 am John Benson, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management of Iowa, said Friday morning that The State Emergency Operations Center was open late Thursday night at Johnston's Dodge camp to help coordinate the state's response. The Vermeer manufacturing plant, heavily damaged in Pella, received technical badistance from Cedar Rapids' urban search and rescue team due to structural collapses. Some members of the team arrived Thursday night and were demobilized around 4 pm Friday and returned home. In Marshalltown, state officials have worked to supplement emergency radio communications by sending free-standing communications trailers that are being used, he added.

"I suspect we'll get through the day, get out of Marshall and maybe Marion's counties, and of course Pella," Benson said. Because communities will be faced with a large amount of debris, the state could ask for help to transport debris and provide heavy equipment to place debris in dump trucks, said Mr. Benson. like Polk, Marion, Marshall and other counties affected by storms and tornadoes they have needs for the state's individual badistance program. The program provides financial badistance – with an income requirement – to people who would not have had insurance or something similar, he added.

"The only thing the governor has done in terms of emergency proclamations The spokesman for the Iowa National Guard confirmed Friday that the National Guard 's troops will not be there. Iowa had not been mobilized. in response to the storm and the damage caused by the tornado.

Update, 8:00 am Two primary schools in Marshalltown, Woodbury, and Franklin suffered significant damage, but Superintendent Theron Schulte hoped that repairs could be completed before the start of school on August 23rd.

The two elementary buildings have roof damage. Schulte said that the roof of the rubber membrane was raised by the tornado and threw a football field, landing on the houses UPDATE, 8:34 started before sunrise on Bondurant, Marshalltown and Pella – the cities of Iowa were the hardest hit. Here is a list of resources and plans to deal with the consequences.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

UPDATE, 7:30 PM: Tornado watches were canceled for all but two counties in Iowa, and severe weather Meteorologist of the National Meteorological Service, Rod Donavon , said Thursday night that tornado investigation teams would travel to Bondurant, Pella and Marshalltown on Friday to badess Thursday's storm force.

He said that it was too early to say how many tornadoes could have formed in the state.

MORE COVER OF IOWA TORNADO:

UPDATE, 6:45 PM: The Marshalltown service of UnityPoint posted this message on Facebook on Thursday : "UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown was hit by a tornado around 5:00 pm today, July 19, 2018. There are no wounded patients or staff members in the hospital, but the building has suffered structural damage to UnityPoint Health – Waterloo and UnityPoint Health – Grundy Center and is not able to take inbound patients.The emergency will be open to badist patients in triage. "

UPDATE, 5:55 pm : Liz Sporrer, a spokeswoman for Vermeer Corp., a manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment in Pella, said:

Damage to the business are many, she says.

"We walk around carefully, we make sure everyone is taken care of," Sporrer said, adding that she did not know how many people were being treated. "

" Our number one priority is to bring home the team members, "she added, adding that the company was hosting visitors at a special event.

Governor Kim Reynolds tweeted, "Devastated to see the destruction of the severe storms and tornadoes of today." Pray for all affected Iowans and for the emergency management teams that responded tonight . "

UPDATE 5:50 PM: Not Significant Injury or death has been reported to Bondurant, although the city suffered significant damage.More important damage was caused to Mallard Pointe Drive

"Several houses, several families displaced." said spokesman for Lieutenant Governor Rich Blaylock's sheriff Polk County

The area was blocked Thursday afternoon because of gas leaks, and only residents and authorities are allowed to enter the city. "

Displaced residents are hee At the Federated Church and the Bondurant Fire Station, Blaylock said there was no estimate for displaced people or the amount of damage.

UPDATE, 5:40 pm: Vermeer's manufacturing facilities in Pella suffered a "direct blow" during Thursday's storms.

Injuries were reported, but the measure was

More than 14,000 customers of MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy were without electricity Thursday night

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A tornado caused significant damage at Bondurant, Iowa, on Thursday, July 19, 2018.
TJ Phillips / Special to the Register

UPDATE, 5:05 pm: Reports to the National Meteorological Service indicated that the Marshalltown area had suffered " catastrophic "in the tornadoes Thursday. Violent storms have overturned vehicles, torn roofs from buildings and demolished trees and power lines.

UPDATE, 4:55 pm.: There was little warning that severe weather was possible on Thursday afternoon; no tornado alerts were announced until an initial tornado warning was issued for Polk County.

A number of supercell storms suddenly formed over Iowa, announcing meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Des Moines. 19659011] Alex Krull, a meteorologist serving in Des Moines, said Thursday afternoon that the forecast models produced in the morning showed only a small probability of violent storms later in the day.

"This morning it did not look like supercell tornadoes were possible," said Krull. "If something were waiting for us, we could have hail, if strong storms were developing."

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A video provided by a reader shows a pair of funneled clouds on Thursday, July 19, 2018 in central Iowa.
Julio C. Galvan, Special to the Register

Krull says that the meteorological service was waiting for that a threat of severe weather remains in effect until 39 at 19 hours. at 8 pm

UPDATE, 4:45 pm: The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for Marshalltown.

"A confirmed, significant, destructive tornado was located above Marshalltown." At 4:46, moving east, meteorologists said. "This is a particularly dangerous situation, take the cover now!"

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Videos and photos submitted by eyewitnesses show tornadoes and funneling clouds swirling around Bondurant.
Of the Monks Register

UPDATE AT 4:15 PM: A tornado fell on Thursday afternoon in the suburbs of Bondurant, in Des Monks, according to the authorities. [19659011

Several streets were closed, and public officials were investigating a gas leak, the city said in a statement

. The Bondurant Community Center to badist affected residents.

Second Street NE and NW Streets were closed.

MidAmerican Energy said that more than 1,800 customers were without electricity in central Iowa, most in Bondurant.

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A funnel cloud is visible in central Iowa on Thursday, July 19, 2018. The view is north-east of Altoona, towards Bondurant.
Sarah Skoglund, Special to the Register

ORIGINAL STORY: The Iowans Post Videos and Photos of Spotted Funnel Clouds

The Service National Meteorological Authority issued tornado warnings for northeastern Marion County, northwestern Mahaska County and southern Jasper County. The watch affects most of southeastern Iowa.