Four people killed and dozens injured in Iowa tornado as more storms forecast across the U.S.

Tragedy hit the small farming town of Greenfield, Iowa, where a tornado wreaked havoc, claiming the lives of four individuals and leaving at least 35 others injured, officials have confirmed. The aftermath of the twister’s rampage through this community of 2,000, situated about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines, revealed a landscape of destruction, with homes reduced to rubble and debris strewn across the area.

Iowa homes “destroyed, fully demolished”

The Iowa Department of Public Safety revealed the grim toll as rescue teams scoured the wreckage for any survivors trapped beneath the debris.

“When we have this many homes that have been destroyed, fully demolished, we want to make sure every person is accounted for,” said Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla during a press briefing. The agency, however, did not immediately disclose whether anyone remained missing or if search efforts were ongoing.

Details surrounding the circumstances of the fatalities were not immediately available, with authorities withholding their identities pending notification of next of kin. Of the 35 reported injuries, at least 14 individuals required treatment at hospitals outside the county, though officials suspect the actual number of casualties could be higher.

What was damaged in Greenfield, Iowa?

Images capturing the aftermath in Greenfield painted a grim picture, depicting widespread devastation, including uprooted trees, mangled vehicles, and toppled wind turbines. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds described the scene as “horrific” and issued a disaster emergency declaration for 15 counties affected by the tornado outbreak.

The tornado that struck Greenfield was part of a larger outbreak across southwestern Iowa on Tuesday, with preliminary reports from the Federal Emergency Management Agency citing 23 potential tornadoes, predominantly in Iowa. Governor Reynolds announced plans to request federal assistance from President Joe Biden to aid affected residents.

Amidst the chaos, a hospital in Greenfield sustained damage, prompting authorities to set up a makeshift medical facility at a local lumberyard and transfer some patients to neighboring facilities. State Representative Ray Sorensen spoke of acts of bravery as residents mobilized to assist the injured, using personal vehicles to transport them to safety in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

As Iowa grappled with the aftermath of the tornado, forecasts warned of continued severe weather across the Southern Plains. Al Roker gave an update on Today on how this could play out, talking about the tens of millions of people at risk and hailstones the size of tennis balls.

Tornado watches were issued for swathes of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, with severe thunderstorms expected to bring large hail and damaging winds. Meanwhile, a separate storm system threatened to spawn tornadoes in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, according to the National Weather Service.