Devastating Tornado Tears Through Greenfield, Iowa on Tuesday 21 may

A monstrous tornado unleashed its fury on Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The small town of 2,000 residents bore the brunt of the storm’s wrath, with homes obliterated, vehicles crumpled, and trees reduced to splinters. The howling winds even toppled massive wind turbines on the outskirts of town, twisting them like mangled metal.

The storm’s destructive path extended beyond Greenfield, battering parts of Illinois and Wisconsin. Over 130,000 residents in those states lost power as the severe weather system pushed eastward.

Greenfield Grapples with Loss and Recovery from Tornado

Greenfield’s hospital, unfortunately, sustained damage during the tornado. This meant injured residents required transport to medical facilities elsewhere, according to Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla. A somber mood hung over the town as Dinkla confirmed fatalities at a press conference Tuesday night, although the exact number remained unclear due to ongoing search and rescue efforts.

Authorities established a mandatory curfew for Greenfield, restricting entry until Wednesday morning and solely allowing residents access. Media representatives were also directed to leave the town on Tuesday night to facilitate search and rescue operations.

The aftermath presented a scene of utter devastation. Debris piles composed of shattered wood from homes, broken branches, car parts, and other remnants littered vacant lots where houses once stood. Some surviving trees stood stripped bare, a testament to the tornado’s raw power.

Despite the immense loss, the Greenfield community spirit shone through. Residents came together to help each other salvage belongings strewn across the wreckage. Rogue Paxton, a resident who took shelter in his basement during the storm, recounted his experience to WOI-TV. While fearing his house might be lost, he expressed gratitude for his family’s safety. However, the harsh reality of widespread destruction settled in as he saw the devastation his brother’s house suffered. “Everything’s going to be fine because we have each other,” Paxton said, highlighting the community’s resilience, “but it’s just going to be really, really rough.”

Widespread Damage and Weather System

The Greenfield tornado wasn’t an isolated incident. Reports emerged of multiple tornadoes across Iowa, with one particularly destructive one taking down several colossal wind turbines, some reaching heights of 250 feet. While wind turbines are engineered to withstand powerful winds, the sheer force of the tornado proved too much for some, even causing a few to catch fire. It’s important to note that wind farms are built with these extreme weather events in mind. The U.S. Department of Energy mandates turbines to shut down when wind speeds surpass specific thresholds, typically around 55 mph. Additionally, they have mechanisms to lock and feather their blades, minimizing strain by directing them into the wind’s path.

Greenfield, once known for its friendly atmosphere and tree-lined streets, now faces a long road to recovery. Mary Long, owner of Long’s Market in the historic town square, recounted riding out the storm at her business. Fortunately, the historic square largely escaped damage, but Long described widespread devastation on Greenfield’s east and south sides.

Governor Offers Support, Storm System Moves East

Governor Kim Reynolds pledged to visit Greenfield on Wednesday to assess the damage and offer support to the community. She acknowledged the recent string of tornadoes impacting Iowa communities and expressed confidence in the state’s ability to rebuild.

The severe weather system responsible for the Greenfield tornado continued its eastward march, bringing tornado warnings to Wisconsin, including the state capital, Madison. Earlier that day, residents in Omaha, Nebraska, faced a barrage of torrential rain, high winds, and large hail, leading to widespread power outages and flooding. Dust storms also plagued Illinois, forcing authorities to close sections of interstates due to limited visibility.

Nationwide Impact of Extreme Weather

The storms in Iowa are just one facet of a larger weather system that has unleashed its fury across the central United States in recent days. Strong winds, hail, and tornadoes have ravaged Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. Just last week, deadly storms hit the Houston area in Texas, claiming at least eight lives and leaving many residents without power during a sweltering heatwave. The death toll in Texas rose to eight on Tuesday after a man succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator used during the power outage.

The National Weather Service’s lead forecaster, Bob Oravec, predicts the weather system will shift south on Wednesday, bringing the threat of severe weather to parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Missouri.