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OF THE MONKS, Iowa (NEWS CBS) – A gust of tornadoes swept through central Iowa, injuring at least 17 people on Thursday, flattening buildings in three cities and forcing evacuation from a hospital. The tornadoes were formed unexpectedly and struck the towns of Marshalltown, Pella and Bondurant while the surprised residents were hiding.
Marshalltown, a town of 27,000 people about 50 miles northeast of Des Moines, was the hardest hit. Streets, roofs were torn off buildings and the dome of the historic courthouse tumbled to 175 feet off the ground
A tornado struck an agricultural machinery plant in Iowa while some people were working, injuring at least seven people. This tornado hit the city of Pella, about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines.
Pella officer Shane Cox told CBS affiliate KCCI-TV that the wounded had been transported to the hospital. Pella Regional Health Center spokeswoman Billie Rhamy confirmed late Thursday that seven people inside the factory had been treated for minor injuries and released. The plant, which has about 2,800 employees who manufacture industrial and agricultural equipment, was hit by a tornado around 4:00 pm.
One of the many factory manufacturing buildings suffered significant damage, with metal scattered on the parking lot and on the other side of the street in a field of corn. The vehicles were knocked over and piled on others.
Vermeer spokeswoman Liz Sporrer said Thursday by email that company officials were assessing the damage. The vice president of corporate operations said that the factory had activated its warning system and that workers were housed in shelters when the storm struck
A UnityPoint Hospital Health in Marshalltown was damaged, said Varcoe. were transferred to Waterloo Health System and Grundy Center Hospitals.
The Marshalltown hospital emergency room remained open to treat injured patients in the storm, Varcoe said. Ten people injured in the storm had been treated before 7 pm Thursday, she said. She did not know how serious these injuries were.
The tornado struck by clothing store owner Stephanie Moz, her husband and their two-month-old baby were taking a lunch break at Marshalltown
Moz says the storm broke the shop windows, ruined clothes and clothes hats that they had exposed and destroyed her husband's vehicle, but she is relieved. "We went through a tornado and survived, I'm happy."
She sent him a storm siren and her mother texted her for shelter, so she and her son, Fredy Jr. ., rushed to the basement. Moz's husband looked out and then ran back screaming, "Go into the basement. It's just above us. "They could hear booms and accidents, and a gust of wind was blowing through the basement, but they emerged safely.Moz said," We're fine. Not a scratch. "
A woman working at Hammer Medical Supply in the downtown area said her building was damaged, as were nearby buildings, including The Orpheum, a theater built in 1948.
lives in Marshalltown, KCCI-TV said the area will likely be declared a disaster area, Smith said his home and neighborhood had not been damaged, but that much of downtown and neighboring homes were in danger. 39, had been.
"There are houses with windows, houses without roof". "It's just an absolute mess."
Other funnels were reported when the Storm has shifted east of Des Moines after Altoona, Prairie City and Colfax.
Several homes in the town of Bondurant have suffered damage, according to KCCI-TV. The station reports that the roof of one house was completely ripped off, while several others lost In addition, a recreational vehicle returned to another house and caused damage.
Video footage and images posted online seemingly show the tornado ripping apart Bondurant's buildings.
Alex Krull, Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Des Moines The forecast patterns produced Thursday morning have shown that a low probability of strong thunderstorms later in the day.
"This morning, it did not seem like tornado supercells were possible," Krull said. "We expected that we could have hail if strong storms developed."
Krull stated that the meteorological service was waiting for a threat of severe weather to remain in force until 19 hours. at 8 pm when storms moved to the east and north
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved The Associated Press contributed to this report.) [19659022]
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