Devastating Tornado Rips Through Greenfield, Iowa
A fierce tornado slammed into the small town of Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction, multiple deaths, and at least a dozen injured, officials confirmed.
Shock scenes from Greenfield show homes smashed to bits, debris strewn across the streets, and several massive wind turbines toppled by the brutal winds.
“This tornado has devastated a good portion of this town,” said Sergeant Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol. “We can confirm there have been multiple fatalities with this tornado.”
Exact death tolls remain unclear, with Sgt Dinkla warning that official figures might not emerge until Wednesday.
Community in Crisis After Tornado Strike
Greenfield, home to around 2,000 people, is battling the aftermath as at least twelve are injured. The local hospital itself suffered damage, forcing patients to be moved to nearby towns.
Resident Valerie Warrior told CBS affiliate KCCI TV: “I’ve lived here all my life. I’m just praying that everyone was safe, that nobody got hurt. It was scary, very scary.”
Footage from the scene captured wrecked vehicles and heavy damage to a local gas station. The tornado caused most destruction in Adair County, where Greenfield is the county seat, as well as neighbouring Adams County.
State Responds with Emergency Declaration
Lisa Brown, the medical examiner for Adams County, confirmed at least one storm-related death—a woman from the area. In response, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds declared a disaster emergency for 15 counties, including Adair and Adams, to unlock state resources for relief work.
At least three towering wind turbines—each about 25 stories high—were nearly snapped in half in Adams County, with one igniting in flames. Several others were also badly damaged, compounding the chaos.
Tornado Warnings Remain as Midwest Faces Severe Storms
The National Weather Service issued tornado and severe thunderstorm alerts across Iowa and other Midwestern states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin. Earlier on Tuesday, a tornado was confirmed near Rollingstone, Minnesota.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions while providing aid and support as Greenfield’s residents grapple with the scale of the disaster.
