The small town of Pilger, Nebraska was “leveled” after the double assault of a pair of tornadoes that tore through the area Monday afternoon, decimating everything in their path.
With wind speeds in excess of 200 mph, the dual tornadoes ripped through the area, which lies 90 miles to the northwest of Omaha. Photos and video shown on social media reveal scenes of utter devastation in Pilger.
TWO TORNADOES!!!! Near Wisner, Nebraska!! #newx pic.twitter.com/mdBbubm5Er
— Matt Coker (@StormCoker) June 16, 2014
RT @reedtimmerTVN : MAJOR damage here in Pilger, Nebraska need emergency personnel NOW!! pic.twitter.com/QPF80pVzgg — WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) June 16, 2014
According to the New York Daily News , the tornadoes scattered cars and ripped street signs from their posts. Brian Davidson, a freelance photojournalist who is in the Stanton county community that 378 people call home, told the Omaha World-Herald that he witnessed a car inside a home, and described the aftermath of the tornadoes as “chaotic.” According to Davidson, every structure for five to six blocks surrounding him was damaged in some manner.
RT @NorfolkNews : This is what remains of Aaron and Teri Biermann’s home southeast of Wayne. http://t.co/rcSSeNEqiW pic.twitter.com/t49a4pGmaF
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) June 16, 2014
Posted 4:02pm CDT. #tornado RT @stormtimelapse : Significant damage near Stanton Nebraska. Unsure of injuries pic.twitter.com/VEZ1UbKOOB — TWC Breaking (@TWCBreaking) June 16, 2014
While early reports were scattered, Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk told the World-Herald that at least 16 people were in critical condition with one dead, while other area hospitals reported at least 11 more injuries. According to Deb Collins, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol, authorities have closed Nebraska Highway 24 from Norfolk to Stanton and shut down US Highway 275 and Nebraska Highway 15 in Stanton County. Collins added that police are requesting motorists to stay off the roads so that emergency services can reach the beleaguered town.
Pilger middle school pic.twitter.com/kehElNfAqK
— Bryan Mendlik (@Bmendlik) June 16, 2014
Images and video of the twin cyclones show them spinning around each other, a relatively uncommon phenomenon called satellite tornadoes. Ben McMillan of the Iowa Storm Chase Network reported following the twisters near Pilger, telling KCCI8 that his group was at one point on the trail of a mile-wide tornado. Severe storms plagued the heartland states earlier this month, as The Inquisitr reported, when an unusually powerful front moved through and caused severe flooding, high winds, and massive hail. Widespread fears of tornado formation proved to be unfounded at that time, yet came to fruition today. Other tornadoes were spotted in relation to the same storm following the devastation in Pilger:
BREAKING: “Large, extremely dangerous #tornado ” confirmed 3 mi W of Burwell, NE moving E at 20 mph toward town. pic.twitter.com/9yuHRyWAoV
— TWC Breaking (@TWCBreaking) June 16, 2014
A #tornado was reported near the Mason City, Iowa airport at 6:45pm CDT. Gust to 64mph measured at the airport.
— TWC Breaking (@TWCBreaking) June 16, 2014
Northeast Nebraska and Iowa will remain under tornado warnings and watches for the remainder of the evening.
[Image via Omaha World-Herald ]
