Tornado – North-America – USA

EDIS Number: TO-20110410-30247-USA
Date / time: 10/04/2011 03:49:58 [UTC]
Event: Tornado
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Iowa
Location: Mapleton
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate

Description:

Search and rescue efforts were under way in Monona County, Iowa, after a tornado touched down Saturday evening, authorities said. There were reports of significant damage to homes and other structures near Mapleton, a town of about 1,200, but it was unclear whether anyone was injured. The National Weather Service reported a tornado touched down about 7:20 p.m. The local chapter of the American Red Cross was sending crews to the scene to evaluate the damage, a spokeswoman said. "I've seen roofs gone," said Lynnette Flanigan, the owner of Hawkeye Bar in Mapleton. "We've seen ambulances from all over ... coming into town." She said she heard from friends that a large grain elevator had been flattened. National Weather Service meteorologist Van DeWald said the town of about 1,200 people received "quite a bit of damage" from the tornado. A Monona County Sheriff's dispatcher says authorities blocked access to Mapleton except to emergency crews because of the heavy damage. The dispatcher, who declined to give her name, wouldn't give details about injuries. Mapleton is about 85 miles northeast of Omaha. Gov. Terry Branstad issued a disaster proclamation for Monana County, allowing the state to spend money to respond to the storm. Frank Boska, a weather service meteorologist in Johnston, says another tornado touched down near the Sac County town of Early but there apparently was little damage.

Event updates:
Situation Update No. 1 on 10.04.2011 at 14:27:03.