2 dead as Severe Storms rip Iowa, Neb.
Pastor Dale Morgan
2 dead as Severe Storms rip Iowa, Neb.*
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Severe storms with strong winds swept
through the Plains on Friday, forcing swimmers practicing for U.S.
Olympic trials in Omaha to flee pools and run for cover, killing two
people in Iowa, and knocking out power to thousands.
Officials at the Qwest Center near downtown Omaha closed the building to
examine it after superstar swimmer Michael Phelps and hundreds of other
athletes were herded into hallways because of a tornado warning.
Water poured into the building, down arena steps and onto the deck of
the competition pool during the storm. The storm's winds may have
reached 100 mph in some areas, said meteorologist Bryon Miller.
An eight-day meet to decide the U.S. Olympic swimming team opens Sunday.
Al Berndt, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management
Agency, said the damage appeared to be reparable and probably wouldn't
halt the swim trials.
Across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, two people died when
a tree fell on the car they were in, said Police Sgt. Jason Bailey.
Damage reports in the region included toppled trees and power lines and
hail the size of baseballs. Flash flood watches were issued across Iowa,
where flooding has been a problem recently.
Berndt said no serious injuries were immediately reported in Omaha, but
there were reports of a few house fires caused by lightning.
Hundreds of people had gathered for a 6 p.m. outdoor concert in Omaha
and for an arts festival in downtown Omaha. Booths flipped over, and
awnings and other covers were whipped away by strong winds.
The outdoor concert and fireworks at Memorial Park was canceled.
A spokesman for the Omaha Public Power District said more than a third
of its customers were without power. The district serves 330,000
customers. There were widespread power failures in Council Bluffs, and
Bailey said the police department was on auxiliary power.