Bennington, Nebraska – At least four people have tragically lost their lives and many others have been injured as a series of tornadoes swept through various states in the South and Midwest over the weekend, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Recovery efforts are currently underway in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Iowa, where severe weather caused significant damage to homes and buildings, reducing them to rubble and debris. In Hughes County, Oklahoma, two individuals, including a child, lost their lives during the storms, with emergency medical services treating several others for injuries, some of which were severe.
Tragedy also struck Love County, Oklahoma, where a passing truck driver lost their life due to the tornadoes, as confirmed by Sheriff Andy Cumberledge. Governor Kevin Stitt announced the death of a fourth individual in Sulphur, a town where at least 30 people were reported to be injured in the aftermath of the storms.
The devastation extended to Minden, Iowa, a town northeast of Omaha, where drone footage captured the extensive damage caused by a tornado that leveled buildings and left a path of destruction. Governor Kim Reynolds declared a disaster emergency for Pottawattamie County, home to Minden, as the state witnessed a dozen tornadoes, with half of them classified as EF-2, featuring wind gusts ranging from 111 to 135 miles per hour.
Nebraska was not spared from the wrath of the tornadoes, as reports from Nebraska Public Media confirmed multiple tornadoes hitting the Omaha and Lincoln areas, causing extensive damage to homes and structures. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska also declared a state of emergency after tornadoes and thunderstorms inflicted significant damage on its members and the surrounding community.
In the midst of the chaos, Eppley Airfield in Omaha faced destruction as four hangar buildings storing private planes were destroyed by the storms. However, the passenger terminal remained unscathed. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell extended support to officials in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska, offering assistance in the recovery and relief efforts following the natural disasters.