(Red Oak) Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman continues to assess the damage from the Thursday morning storm that swept through southwest Iowa. Hamman says the storm was more impactful than what the area usually experiences at that time of day. Hamman says these storms usually occur in the late afternoon and evening hours and cause this type of damage.
Hamman says the county experienced strong straight-line winds, and possibly a tornado or two in a couple of areas. He says the damage is confined to the areas north of Stanton, between the new and old Highway 34 corridors, and to the stretch traveling east from Viking Lake to the Villisca area and into Adams County.
Hamman went on to say that downed trees are blocking many of the county’s roadways, as well as downed power lines.
The strong winds blew a grain bin next to the Highway 71 and Highway 34 intersection.
Hamman says that if your home, business, or property sustained damage, you can document the impacts by submitting a self-reported damage assessment online at iastate.orioncentral.com/SelfReporter.
As of Thursday afternoon, utility crews and local responders remain actively working to repair downed and broken power lines and clear tree debris from roadways and public right-of-way.
Hamman did mention, “It could have been worse.”
(Photo courtesy of Brian Hamman, Montgomery County EMA Coordinator)
