US Midwest storms cause severe flooding, spawn tornadoes
Pastor Dale Morgan
US Midwest storms cause severe flooding, spawn tornadoes*
DREXEL, Mo. (AP) — Storms that spread across the central U.S. brought
heavy rains, wind and at least two tornadoes, renewing flooding concerns
in already soggy areas and leaving thousands of people without power.
No serious injuries were reported from the two storm systems that hit
the central part of the U.S. on Monday and early Tuesday.
In Minnesota, an apparent tornado struck the town of Austin, uprooting
trees, knocking down power lines and at least one person was reported
with minor injuries. The National Weather Service said the storm sent
debris flying, flipped cars on their sides and sent trees through roofs.
Power was out in much of the city, including at KAAL-TV, which broadcast
from a dark newsroom while anchors were handed papers to read.
Cloud rotations were spotted in several other areas and some brief
tornado touchdowns were reported, but not immediately confirmed.
Heavy rain brought flooding concerns to areas of central North Dakota
hit by flooding earlier this spring. Burleigh County Emergency Manager
Mary Senger said the damage means some repairs made after flooding in
March and April would have to be done again. Rainfall totals in Burleigh
and Morton counties reached up to 5 inches to 7 inches.
South Dakota saw heavy rain, strong wind and hail, with two reports of
funnel clouds in Stanley County.
A separate storm system that cut a wide swath across Kansas, Nebraska
and Missouri knocked out power, damaged buildings and led to flash
flooding. The NWS said that two tornadoes that touched down in central
and western Nebraska caused little damage.
In the small Missouri town of Norborne, about an hour's drive northeast
of Kansas City, straight-line winds from a thunderstorm reached more
than 74 mph, knocking down the walls of one buildings and damaging roofs
and trees.
In Drexel, about 60 miles south of Kansas City, Fire Chief William
Harper said the main concern Tuesday was restoring power to the Cass
County town that saw high winds and heavy rain.
"We were able to get the sirens sounded in town, people took cover and
hunkered down," Harper said. "We're very fortunate."
Mabel Lee, 81, of Drexel, said the blowing wind and thunder had awakened
her, although her building was not damaged.
"I didn't even look outside because I was afraid it might rip up the
apartment," she said.
In southwest Kansas, high winds picked up a tractor-trailer rig and
tossed it from the highway. The driver was not injured. The National
Weather Service said it was hard to tell whether tornadoes or
straight-line winds were to blame for some damage in that state, where
winds reached up to 80 or 90 mph. About 22,000 residents were without
power.