4 deaths at scout camp TORNADO Little Sioux Iowa

[Omaha Steve]

Source: No link



Reported KMTV 3 Omaha. Confirmed 4 deaths at scout camp. Camp is flattened! Several tornadoes reported on the ground in Eastern Ne, Western Ia.

No link yet.

[truthisfreedom]

1. Tragedy! Dammit, we are having such wild weather this year in the midwest.

I had 2" hail raining down on my house for 20 minutes, tore everything up.

I'm so sorry about those kids... God, their poor families. You send your kids out to learn about nature and never expect things to go completely wrong.

[grannylib]

2. Oh no...what an unfortunate place to be during a tornado; wonder

if there was shelter of any kind?
What a terrible thing - my heart goes out to their families, how awful.
My dad used to serve a church near there, I think - Little Sioux Lutheran.

[Omaha Steve]

3. I was at this camp in 1971

It sits at the base of a bluff. Hospital alerted for 50 injuries. It was a gathering of about 100 scouts. The best of the area council according to a scout master just interviewed by phone. All communications to the camp including cell phones are out.

[JeanGrey]

33. My weather site said Homeland Security is sending help;

they have called search and rescue and the National Guard. Apparently the scouts WERE in a building or hall, apparently the large fireplace collapsed on some that were killed. I think they said 96 scouts and 25 counselors? 45 plus injured and 4 confirmed dead - I fear that count will go higher.

Imagine had they been in tents.................

By the way I live North of Atlanta and we had huge electrical storms blow through about 6:30 - it blew the front door right off a restaurant I was having dinner in - It hailed, and blew all of our patio furniture and tomato potted plants through out the yard off the deck. We also found out today the last lighting storm that went through Monday night fried our air conditioner - the lightening hit the ground and traveled through our copper pipes - we were downstairs and the sound was such a large crack my ears rang for twenty minutes and blue flame shot out of the pipes above my laundry sink!! Oddly enough, two computers and one laptop were unharmed.

It took our or a/c, our neighbor (to the right) lost everything electrical, two wide screen TV's all his computers (one hard drive was melted) their a/c, and central vac.

It even fused his breaker box. He was lucky it didn't burn his house to the ground. The people on our left blew their breakers and damaged their air as well.

First time we've have a claim to State Farm in 20 years...................

But that's nothing compared to what others have lost.

[uppityperson]

4. k&r edited to add shit shit shit.

[aquart]

32. A completely appropriate addition. Second it.

[Blaze Diem]

5. Have a daughter in Omaha...I know its across the river from Council Bluffs..

Is this tragedy close to this location? She works at Prestige World Class Restaurant near Golf Course.
Is this happening NOW???

She called me last weekend at 2:30 am scared & hiding in the basement stairway with her dog..There was a tornado touchdown in a burb of Omaha.
Appreciate any info as to the conditions at this time..she's 23, havent seen her for a year, & she's due to come visit us in Dallas this weekend...

Appreciate feedback..thanks.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Yes happening now

My lights have gone office twice. I'm shutting down as the thunder, lightning, and hail is picking up. The entire area is under a warning!

OS OUT!

[Blaze Diem]

10. Be Safe Omaha Steve..report back when you can. Wish you well tonight.

A terrifying time.

[joeglow3]

20. Most of it is past us now

Omaha and Council Bluffs should be okay. Right now, the concern and prayers are with the scouts an hour north.

[Kindigger]

43. Oh goody

Near Columbus Junction here. Waiting for more water.

PS Sorry about those kids. When I lived in Colorado 82-88, a tornado hit a Scout camp at 12,000ft. Totally unheard of.

[JeanGrey]

34. Stay Safe, STEVE!

[uppityperson]

6. Article, link here.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS/80611078
A tornado tore through a Scout camp this evening and left behind up to 30 injured people and possible fatalities.

The camp is the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, located between Blencoe and Little Sioux.
Becky Griffis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Omaha, said the tornado went through at about 6:35 p.m, about 12 minutes after the warning went out.
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Griffis said there were reports of up to four fatalities, but those were unconfirmed.

Who was at the camp was not immediately known.
------------------
watching fire with friends evacuating, now tornadoes, crap.

[Blaze Diem]

8. I see that Little Souix is North of Omaha. I wish the best for those campers.

Weather has been dangerous in that part of the country..My daughter said there had been no tornado in Omaha for over 15 years, until last weekend.

I've been through a tornado, with my little sister when I was 11...home alone, and it bout scared the snot out a me...

It is big, dark, loud and bad. You are sitting there at the mercy of nature. I recall it vividly.

I feel terrible for the campers who just experienced this

[uppityperson]

9. NWS report: 30-40 injuries, 4 fatalities

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/080611_rpts.html
2335 6 N LITTLE SIOUX MONONA IA 4190 9603 TORNADO HIT A BOYSCOUT RANCH JUST NORTH OF THE HARRISON COUNTY LINE. THIRTY TO FORTY INJURIES WITH 4 FATALITIES REPORTED BY HARRISON COUNTY DISPATCH. (OAX)

[Blaze Diem]

12. Where on earth would those poor campers go for cover in a tornado?

They were in open space with little protection, I would suppose. No wonder so many injured.

[uppityperson]

17. 1 article said that was a problem, camp buildings aren't tornado resistant

rest of article said minimal so I didn't post, but it did talk, briefly, about camp structures.

Sad irony for me right now. A tornado at a boy scout camp, bunch of kids/adults used to being in the woods and being prepared/working together get some fast ugly practice. SantaCruz fire is right at the house of friends who have been seriously considering selling/emigrating. Too sad.

[joeglow3]

21. Radio station here says all buildings are old fashioned log cabin type

[uppityperson]

23. Sounds like a mess. Hands on training, what a mess. Those poor kids/adults.

http://www.kcci.com/news/16579590/detail.html
A spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security said at least four people were killed and 40 injured Wednesday evening when a tornado struck a western Iowa Boy Scout camp.

Julie Tack, a spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security, said a search and rescue team had been deployed to the camp, near Little Sioux in Harrison County. She said the camp was covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m.

Tack said there were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp when the tornado struck. The campers were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp. "They were considered some of the best in the area," Tack said.

At least 40 people who were injured in the storm were being taken to area hospitals.

[aquart]

31. Nightline just said not one building left standing.

[uppityperson]

11. Search and Rescue teams called in...

http://www.kcci.com/news/16579043/detail.html

KCCI is getting early word tonight of a tornado touchdown that hit a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa, injuring as many as 40 people. Our sister station in Omaha, KETV, reports that the Boy Scouts confirm four of those injuries are fatalities.

Courtney Greene, a spokeswoman for Governor Chet Culver, says the tornado hit the Little Sioux scout camp. Speaking from the state Emergency Operations Center, which is mobilized because of flooding across Iowa, Greene said authorities have been told of multiple injuries and the potential loss of life. Hospitals in the area have been told to be on stand-by for injured patients.

The camp is located in western Iowa on the Harrison-Monona county line, north of Council Bluffs. Greene says a large number of state troopers are on scene and that a search and rescue team has been dispatched to the area from Sioux City. She doesn't know why they are needed, just that local officials asked for the team.

KCCI also learned that DOT crews have been sent to the area with chain saws to help clear a path for rescuers. The tornado downed a large number of trees. The tornado struck around 7 pm. A line of severe thunderstorms with the threat for tornadoes and heavy rain is sweeping across western Iowa this evening and will enter central Iowa later tonight.

[bullwinkle428]

13. I'm in eastern Iowa - that line of storms is supposed to come

through here later tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest! We're already deep in flood waters in some places around here, and don't want to think about this on top of what some here are already going through...just an enormous tragedy all around.

[progressoid]

28. Hope it fades by then

We were getting 2-4 inches an hour. I don't know how some areas will handle the extra rain.

[xchrom]

14. Peace be with their families. nt

[NEDem]

15. Horrible, just horrible

Tornadoes everywhere tonight in southeast Nebraska.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. Meaning no disrespect, I do hope they weren't children.

It always strikes me as extra tragic when it's a child who hasn't yet experienced so many of the wonders of living.

No matter who they were, my heart goes out to their families.

[joeglow3]

22. 96 kids between the ages of 13 and 17.

[BadgerKid]

18. So sad ... link to live weather coverage

http://www.ketv.com/weather/index.html?livestream=2

[uppityperson]

19. Iowa Homeland Security official confirms 4 dead (40+injured)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ijDA5bgxiHlTvS_r-SSjskS1Tq1wD9188ALG0

http://www.kcci.com/news/16579590/detail.html
A spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security said at least four people were killed and 40 injured Wednesday evening when a tornado struck a western Iowa Boy Scout camp.

Julie Tack, a spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security, said a search and rescue team had been deployed to the camp, near Little Sioux in Harrison County. She said the camp was covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m.

Tack said there were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp when the tornado struck. The campers were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp.

"They were considered some of the best in the area," Tack said.

At least 40 people who were injured in the storm were being taken to area hospitals.

[NEDem]

24. Just saw a kid interviewed on TV, he was there

Sounds like the tornado hit one of the shelters and that a fireplace fell on the kids that were killed.

I really feel for these families.

I love this kind of weather, but when this kind of crap happens it takes the 'fun' out of it.

[Inspired]

25. I'm in NYC right now on business and it seems my state is falling apart. Crap.

Floods, tornadoes, torrential rains.

I hope I make it home tomorrow.

[progressoid]

27. Sometimes it's better to be away.

I was gone all last week during a lot of that bad weather. Now that I'm back, I'm not sleeping much worrying about the weather.

[aquart]

30. What's the word on your transportation?

It could get to the point where only emergency transport goes in and out.

[smoogatz]

37. Next up: frogs.

Oy.

[AngryOldDem]

26. I'm not going to sleep well tonight....

My Scout is thousands of miles away at another camp, so I cannot begin to imagine what the parents of these Scouts are going through.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by these storms.

[JeanGrey]

29. Weather is one of my hobbies. I lurk on many well informed

weather sites, and I for one cannot believe this year - if you go to the tornado or severe weather maps there are tornadoes on the ground almost every single day!!! It is unbelievable. May god be with those scouts. It is not over - a large wedge tornado was just reported in Kansas I believe, this day has been unreal. Global warming is going to kill us all. I've never seen so many storms!

Here's a good link to the entire map with the severe weather areas mapped out. It's a good one to keep bookmarked.

http://www.wunderground.com/severe.asp

Everything in solid red is tornado on the ground or spotted.

Prayers for everyone out there tonight, and for those scouts!!

[AngryOldDem]

36. Have you heard of this site?

http://www.severestudios.com/

A snip from tonight's feed. I don't know where these guys were in relation to the Scout camp.

<<Our chasers tonight Kory Hartman and Kenny Allen were in the direct path of the tornado in near Moorehead, IA They were broadcasting LIVE on the CHASECAM NETWORK when they were overrun by a rain wrapped tornado. They are OK, the vehicle did get damaged, spun around 180 degrees and lots of debris contact.<<

Accompanying picture shows a pretty good chunk taken out of the car.

This season has been incredible indeed.

[JeanGrey]

38. No, and thank you for a new link!

[KitchenWitch]

35. My thoughts and prayers are with all affected

:cry:

[emmadoggy]

39. Heartbreaking.

What hell for the families this must be.

This weather is just so unbelievable. Record-breaking flooding all over the state, Parkersburg still reeling and trying to clean up from the devastating tornado that ripped through there, New Hartford devastated by the tornado and now the floods. KCRG just came on with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Grundy and Butler counties - packing winds of possibly 70MPH - heading towards Parkersburg, among others.
This whole line is sweeping across the state bringing more severe storms and torrential rains onto already over-saturated and flooding ground. The flooding that is ongoing is freaking unreal - breaking records all over the place - and by large margins! CRAP! When will it end??

So many people in Iowa suffering right now. :cry: :cry: :cry:

[joeglow3]

40. 3 Students Went to Creighton Medical Center

13 & 2 15 year olds in good condition. Other hospitals are not releasing anything.

[JeanGrey]

41. LARGE TORNADO on the ground near KSU reported about

30 minutes ago......................

[JeanGrey]

42. Being reported people tapped in Manhattan, KS, twister

Cell has tracked more than 66 miles with confirmed tornadoes from Salina to NE of Manhattan, Kansas

Communities that were impacted include Salina, Enterprise, Chapman, Junction City area, Ogden area, and Manhattan

[Trailrider1951]

44. God, that is just terrible!

My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives. Tornadoes scare me like nothing else in this world. For those of you who live in tornado country, please check out the availability of storm shelters in your area. Here is one in my area:

http://jarrellstormshelters.com/pages/about-us.php


$3000 delivered and installed.

My house is about 12 miles east of Jarrell. :-(

[Omaha Steve]

45. My family members are all fine as far as I know

We have several calls to make. None are in an area that was hit with damage as far as we can tell.

[TwilightGardener]

46. Finally able to get online, since yesterday evening--

I always shut the computer down during storms since our old one was fried a couple years ago in lightning. I saw this on the local news last night--very sad. They blew our town's tornado sirens twice last night--three times in the last week. There was one about 10 miles north, and another about 20 miles south of us, so I took my kids down to the basement for a while (it's damp, but not flooded like many around here, thank God). We are just locked in a bad storm pattern here in Nebraska, but it always seems like Iowa gets it even worse, for whatever reason. They can't catch a break.

[Gore1FL]

47. One amazing thing about this storu is the actions of the Scouts afterwards

The tended to the wounded, rescued the Camp director and family from their collapsed house, etc.

They responded exactly as they were trained to do. That is the silver lining of this tragedy.

[htuttle]

48. I'm really glad to hear that

When I was heavily involved in the scouts (as a scout) back in the late 70's, it was all rough and tumble. From what I'd been hearing the last few years, I was starting to worry that all they did nowadays was sit around and talk about God.

Glad they still know how to keep their cool and apply a bandage, etc...

[Gore1FL]

50. Not at all.

I'm a Scout Leader. I can tell you from experience National makes a lot of poor decisions and earns us a lot of bad press.

When push comes to shove, the program does more to further liberal values. We teach responsible stewardship for the environment. We collect food for the poor. We "help other people at all times, "do a good turn daily," etc.

We have had several Scouts earn Eagle in the past few years. There are two of them in particular that I would be shocked to discover were in fact heterosexual.

It's a good program--better than it was in the 70's when I was involved as a youth. Don't let idiotic decisions out of the National headquarters fool you. BSA is an irreplaceable organization that does far more good than bad.

[htuttle]

51. Good -- hope you're still teaching basic wilderness survival skills, too

I came into possession of my father's 'Boy Scout Fieldbook' from the mid 1950's, and I couldn't believe all the stuff covered in there. Reading it was almost like reading a Army Ranger field manual, sans guns. Stuff like tracking animals, trapping, skinning, 'how not to be seen', cooking meals with wild food, improvised shelters -- all sorts of useful stuff that we didn't even cover in the 70's.

The actions of the National BSA org have saddened me in the last 15 years. I only made First Class before I lost interest (er...or rather, I got interested in girls...), but I had a fairly illustrious scouting career before that. I had the opportunity to attend both Philmont and a national jamboree at one point. More than once I've drawn upon those experiences. For example, the main reason that I knew I could easily walk 20 miles when my car broke down in MT was that I had to do it once with a full pack on my back at Philmont...

[CODemocrat]

49. "Be Prepared"

Well, maybe tornadoes are out of the parameters.........

Dead Boy Scouts suck.

Any dead people suck.......

In fact, dead dogs suck. I am glad my dog is breathing.

Whew.

Logic is a tuff subject...