"15 second deal" - 80 car's windows blown out, 2 cars piled on top

[donsu]

of other cars and the roof blown off. 30+ homes damaged, a town hall and post office demolished.
then hard rain and then flooding. the fun of climate change.



A tornado chugged through eastern Iowa this afternoon with winds up to 140 miles-per-hour. It ripped through homes and businesses and knocked down trees and power lines. A Muscatine car dealer reported 80 cars with windows blown out, two cars on top of cars and his roof blown off. He said it was an unbelievable "15-second deal" and loud as a freight train running through his dealership. In Fruitland, Kelly Goodwin sifted through the rubble of what used to be her kitchen. She said she'd been spending a quiet afternoon when she heard the wind howl outside. She glanced out the window, saw a tree rip from the ground and hurried to the basement. Grandview Mayor Chuck Sorrowfree said most of the damage was in the west and northwest parts of the town. He has asked for generators from the Iowa National Guard. There are no reports of deaths or serious injuries.
-------------------

More than 30 homes suffered major damage after a tornado struck eastern Iowa Friday afternoon. Only minor injuries were reported. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the tornado first touched down as an EF3 with winds of up to 143 miles per hour in Grandview. Some 10 to 20 homes there suffered major damage and one home was completely flattened. The tornado's path was 16 miles long and then took it through the town of Fruitland, where NWS forecasters say it had EF2 strength. The Fruitland city hall and post office were demolished. More than 30 homes had substantial roof damage and five to 10 homes saw severe wall damage. The tornado then struck Muscatine where it damaged more homes and businesses. One car dealership reported at least 15 cars flipped and severely damaged, and another 80 with blown out windows. Several city buildings saw damage as well. Friday's tornado first touched down shortly after noon local time before tearing off into Louisa and Muscatine counties. NWS forecasters said it was a wide as 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile along some of its path. Iowa Gov. Chet Culver issued an emergency declaration for Jackson, Louisa and Muscatine counties. Heavy rain also pummeled the region, causing localized flooding and one traffic accident fatality. Many roads remain closed as crews clear debris and downed power lines.
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and this was only one of the tornados that day

both the articles came from emails from: RSOE HAVARIA Emergency and Disaster Information Service

[napi21]

1. God bless all of you in Iowa! n/t

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. I am by no means a denier of climate change but tornados are not that unusual this time of year....

I dont mean to be picky here but your statement "the fun of climate change." seems to infer this unfortunate but rather common event has climate change at its root. I would simply beg to differ. Tornadoes in the central US have been common since time immemorial. In fact, they occur with more frequency in the midwest of the US than anywhere else on the planet.

[elocs]

3. Right. I don't think it does any service to attempt to tie climate change

to what is an horrific, but common occurrence such as a tornado in the Midwest.

[donsu]

5. what you say is true, but now they are bigger and stronger

and found in places in the world that have never experienced them before.


climate change is causing the weather to be 'stronger', for want of a better word.

[stevedeshazer]

4. Tornado in Iowa? Whoda thunk it?

I believe in human causality regarding global warming, especially in polar regions, but this is not unusual for the midwest in June.

That said, I wish the best to our friends in Iowa.

Susan, if you read this, please PM me. :)

[uppityperson]

6. Best wishes to all involved.Tornados are common, can be really destructive. News/pict here

http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2007/06/02/news/doc4660d53ca61e0762287258.txt

Sightseers stay home: Emergency proclamation issued. Police issue warning: Non-essential traffic should stay off the streets


MUSCATINE, Iowa — An emergency proclamation has been declared for Muscatine and Fruitland according to city officials. Muscatine Police Chief Gary Coderoni said no one is sure if one tornado touched down three times, or if there were multiple tornados along a 12-mile stretch through Grandview, Fruitland and Muscatine.

The tornado, which touched down just after noon on Friday, was classified as an F3 but dissipated to an F2 as it passed through Muscatine.

Gov. Chet Culver has declared a disaster proclamation for Jackson, Muscatine and Louisa Counties.

So far, six injuries have been reported from Fruitland, where the majority of damage was done, but Coderoni believes none are life threatening....

http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2007/06/02/news/doc4660d72b4cdc3753739891.txt
This one has slide show also. http://www.muscatinejournal.com/multimedia/?type=slideshow&id=4

[nebenaube]

7. yeah...

But there are going to be more of these and in places where they don't normally hit. Sure, Tornados are common... in the "alley" but not everywhere else.

[rasputin1952]

8. Gonna be a long T Season...

we've had three T-watches already, w/one touching down several miles away. Fortuantely, it lasted only a couple of minutes and no damage was doen

While the physical items destroyed are soemthing to worry about...I'm certainly glad no on was killed or seriously injured...