Iowa Tornado Outbreak July 19, 2018

Several tornadoes tore through Iowa late Thursday, flattening homes and businesses, overturning cars and causing several injuries. According to the National Weather Service, there were 28 reports of tornadoes, mostly in Iowa. The hardest hit areas were the central Iowa cities of Pella, Marshalltown and Bondurant. As of Friday morning, no deaths have been reported in Iowa due to the storms.

National Links

Postal Service (Hold your mail or forward your mail)

website https://www.usa.gov/post-office

FEMA

website https://www.fema.gov/

twitter https://twitter.com/fema

facebook https://www.facebook.com/FEMA/

 

National Weather Service (NWS)

website https://www.weather.gov/

twitter https://twitter.com/nws

facebook https://www.facebook.com/nws

 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

website https://www.hhs.gov/

twitter https://twitter.com/hhsgov

facebook https://www.facebook.com/HHS

 

Distress Line

website https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

twitter https://twitter.com/distressline

facebook https://www.facebook.com/samhsa

 

Humanity Road

website: https://humanityroad.org

twitter: https://twitter.com/humanityroad

facebook https://www.facebook.com/humanityroad

Humanity Road Iowa Situation Report

Regional and State Links

FEMA Region 8

website https://www.fema.gov/region-vii-ia-ks-mo-ne

twitter https://twitter.com/femaregion7

facebook: None for Region 8 visit national https://www.facebook.com/FEMA/

 

Iowa State Government

website https://www.iowa.gov/

social media accounts https://directory.iowa.gov/social/Index

 

Iowa State Homeland Security and Emergency Management

website https://www.facebook.com/IowaHSEMD

twitter https://twitter.com/IowaHSEMD

facebook https://www.facebook.com/IowaHSEMD

 

National Weather Service Des Moines

website https://www.weather.gov/dmx/

twitter https://twitter.com/NWSDesMoines

facebook https://www.facebook.com/NWSDesMoines

 

Iowa State Department of Transportation

website https://www.iowadot.gov/

twitter https://twitter.com/statewideia511

Statewide facebook https://www.iowadot.gov/stayingconnected#facebook

Central Iowa facebook https://www.facebook.com/Iowa511Central

 

Volunteer Iowa (sign up as a disaster volunteer)

website http://volunteeriowa.galaxydigital.com/disaster?platform=hootsuite

twitter https://twitter.com/VolunteerIowa

facebook https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerIowa

 

Greater Iowa Red Cross

website http://www.redcross.org/local/iowa

twitter https://twitter.com/GreaterIA_ARC

County and Local Links

Jasper County

County website https://www.co.jasper.ia.us/

Emergency Management website http://jasperema-hls.org/

Emergency Management twitter https://twitter.com/JasperCountyEMA

Emergency Management facebook https://www.facebook.com/jaspercountyema

 

Marion County

County website http://co.marion.ia.us/

Emergency Resources http://co.marion.ia.us/resources.htm

Marion County Emergency Management offices http://www.co.marion.ia.us/offices/ema/index.htm

 

Marshall County

County website http://www.co.marshall.ia.us/

Emergency Management website http://www.co.marshall.ia.us/departments/em/

 

Polk County

County website https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/

County twitter https://twitter.com/PolkCounty_Iowa

Community links https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/home/community-links/

Emergency Management twitter https://twitter.com/PCEmrgManAgency

Health twitter https://twitter.com/polkcohealth

Health facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Health-Department/57794587808

Flood Recovery Resources https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health/news-press-releases/flood-recovery-services-and-resources/

Emergency Numbers and helplines

Emergency Phone Numbers

  • 911 – for life and death emergencies, need rescue, trapped in home, people with disabilities who need life saving medication

 

Information Helplines

  • Polk County
    • General Assistance: Those in need of financial assistance with bills, rent and other flood expenses can call (515) 286-2088
    • Health Dept: For medical assessment, help with medications and tetanus vaccines, call (515) 286-3798 source
    • Mental Health: Residents in need of mental health services and resources call (515) 243-4545 source
  • Greater Iowa Red Cross: For clean-up kits, case management, food, clothing assistance and other resources, call (515) 243-7681 source
  • Iowa Legal Aid: For legal assistance for tenants with damage, questions and concerns, call (515) 243-1193 source
  • 211 – 2-1-1 is a three-digit helpline that connects anyone with local support and resources. Professionals are trained to quickly assess a caller’s needs and identify the best solution. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, and available any time. Types of assistance offered through Iowa 211: Rent assistance, Food pantries, Affordable housing, Utility assistance, Health and mental, health resources, Child care and after-school programs, Elderly care, Job training programs, Legal services, Crisis intervention, Disability services, Volunteer opportunities

 

Reunification Hotlines and Websites

  • American Red Cross Safe and Well Safe and well
  • Facebook Crisis Response for Marshalltown Safety Check

Maps and Situational Awareness

PICTURES AND VIDEOS

  • Video – Tornadoes sweep across Iowa via TIME
  • Video – Severe Weather Caused Several Tornadoes USA Today
  • Video – Bondurant, Pela, Marshalltown Tornadoes Devastate Iowa KETV News 7
  • Video – Iowa Storm Chase storm footage
  • Video1 Video 2 – Prairie City Tornado
  • Video1 Video 2 Video3 Bondurant (twin tornadoes)
  • Photo – Wood pierces car bumper Marshalltown Iowa
  • Photo – Double tornado North of Altoona between Altoona and Bondurant
  • Photo – Adventureland Altoona Rollercoaster with Tornado in background
  • Photo – Cone Tornado in Pela Iowa

Photo – Damage to Lennox building in Marshalltown

HOSPITALS

Status of Hospitals

July 20

July 19

  • Marshalltown Hospital Closed Due to Tornado Damage. No patients or staff were injured. Emergency Department moved to Medical Park at 55 Central Iowa Dr. source
  • Pella Regional Health Center : received 7 patients, all with minor injuries who have been released. source

SPECIAL NEEDS DAFN

Resources for those with disabilities, accessibility and functional needs.

Iowa State Department of Aging

website https://directory.iowa.gov/organization/details/department-on-aging

twitter https://twitter.com/iowaaging

facebook https://www.facebook.com/iowaaging/

 

Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging:

website https://iowaassocaging.wordpress.com/

twitter https://twitter.com/IowaAssocAging

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (serves Marshalltown)

website http://www.nei3a.org/

twitter https://twitter.com/NEI3A

 

List of Nursing Homes in Marshalltown

website https://www.nursinghomes.com/ia/marshalltown/

 

Meals On Wheels

call Iowa Home Care at (641)-752-5545

website http://www.mealsonwheelsofmarshalltown.com/

 

List of Food Pantries close to Marshalltown

website https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/ia-marshalltown

 

Child & Adult Care Food Program in Marshalltown

call (641) 754-1715

 

List of Kidney Dialysis Centers near Marshalltown:

search results source

 

Iowa Association of the Deaf (IAD)

videophone: 402-206-2413

website http://iowadeaf.com/

telecommunications access Iowa www.relayiowa.com

 

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

website www.nad.org

 

Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

website https://humanrights.iowa.gov/cas/ds

 

Iowa Department for the Blind

call (515) 281-1333

website http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/1

twitter https://twitter.com/afb1921

facebook https://www.facebook.com/americanfoundationfortheblind

 

Iowa Disability Benefit Programs:

call (319) 353-8777

website http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/iowa_disability_benefit_progra.html

 

List of Iowa Autism Resources:

website http://autismawarenessonline.com/resources/States/iowa.htm

 

Marshalltown IA Social Security office:

call 1-877-819-2595

 

Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs:

call (515)-252-4698

website https://va.iowa.gov/ https://www.facebook.com/IowaDepartmentofVeteransAffairs/

 

Division of Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS):

call (515)-281-3128

website https://dhs.iowa.gov/

INFRASTRUCTURE

Communications Status

Tornado damage has caused a number of emergency situations. Stay off cell lines to ensure emergency communications can go through. Please use the City of Marshalltown Facebook page to communicate important non emergent information and helpful comments. https://www.marshalltown-ia.gov/

Power and Fuel Status

  • Pella Cooperative Electric is down to four outages. Due to lines torn down and tree damage, they will take longer to restore. Source
  • Alliant energy has notified us that they are blowing the vent system out around the Veterans Home area so there may be a gas smell. If you feel this is not the situation call 1/800- ALLIANT. https://www.marshalltown-ia.gov/
  • @AlliantEnergyIA says there are still over 6,000 customers without power in Marshalltown. They are still working to restore power @KCRG source

Airports Useful Links

  • List of airports in Iowa. source
  • Des Moines International Airport: website@dsmairportfacebook
  • Marshalltown Municipal Airport: Phone: 641-752-0012 After Hours: 641-521-6832 http://www.miwairport.com/

Roads / Bridges Useful Links

SOCIAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA LINKS

Hashtags

#tornado #bondurant #iowa #iawx #Marshalltown #pella #IAwx #Iowa #SevereWeather #stormhour #weather

 

Twitter Accounts of Interest

 

FaceBook Accounts

 

Local Radio

 

Local Broadcast TV

  • WHO (NBC) channel 13 television
  • KCCI (CBS) channel 8 television

Local Newspapers

SITUATION UPDATES BY COUNTY

Jasper County Population 27,820

  • Jasper County City of Prairie officials report they confirmed six tornadoes near Prairie City and at least three near Monroe. No serious damage has been reported source

 

Marion County Population 33,309

 

  • County-wide updates :
    • Marion County residents and businesses that incurred property damage from the severe weather are encouraged to self report their damage. Reports should be made by emailing information such as name, address, and the type of damage to Source

 

July 20:

    • One reported tornado hit a company in Pella town, about 40 miles from Des Moines, sending at least seven people from Vermeer Corporation to hospital with injuries. source
    • The tornado hit around 4:00 p.m. in the midst of a customer appreciation event. More than 3,000 people were at the plant when the tornado tore through. source
    • the tornado destroyed two Vermeer buildings and the waste treatment facility. source
    • Officials reported wind speeds of 60 miles per hour that caused downed trees, especially in the south side of town. source
    • The Pella Tornado has been rated an EF-3 with estimated peak wind speeds of 144 mph. source

 

Marshall County Population 27,552

 

  • County-wide updates

July 20:

    • Marshall County Emergency Management – For those that are calling the office for assistance, please call the communications center at 641-754-5725 for non emergency calls and 911 for emergencies. Source

July 20:

    • Red Cross shelter moving to the Marshalltown YMCA. Doors open at 3pm today (Friday). Current shelter clients are being shuttled from @MeskwakiCasino -Hotel to the @MarshalltownY source
    • Marshall County Iowa Sheriff’s Office: A state of emergency was declared in Marshalltown due to the tornado and a 9 p.m. curfew is in place for the city. Please avoid the north side of town. Source
    • Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital is closed due to tornado damage. No patients or staff were injured http://via.whotv.com/VXdYH Emergency Department moved to Medical Park at 55 Central Iowa Dr. Source All 40 of the patients were being transferred to the health system’s larger hospital in Waterloo as well as one in Grundy Center, Source
    • The police department is unoccupied at this time due to damage and a gas leak in the area. source
    • The City has placed a dumpster for the disposal of storm debris from the downtown damage. The dumpster is located behind the Tremont building in the parking lot. source
    • The City of Marshalltown Compost Facility, 901 Woodland Street, will be open from morning to 8pm until further notice for residents to drop off tree debris from the storm on July 19th. The Compost Facility will not accept building materials or other non-compostable items. source
    • Marshalltown City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 20th, due to the tornado damage that occurred on the 19th. Updates regarding operations for next week will be posted when available. The Coliseum, located at 20 West State Street, will be closed until further notice. source
    • The Red Cross has set up a station across from the Fire Station for any citizens that have immediate shelter needs. https://www.marshalltown-ia.gov/
    • The Red Cross has set up at the YMCA. source
    • The Emergency Food Box, 109 S 3rd St, Marshalltown, is open. source
    • We wound up with 28 people overnight in our @GreaterIA_ARC #RedCross shelter at the @MeskwakiCasino-Hotel last night in Tama. source

 

Polk County 467,700

 

July 20:

    • Bondurant Recovery Assistance Center – American Legion Hall 315 2nd St NW. You will need a Bondurant ID or vehicle registration to enter the secured area source
    • If you need help with debris cleanup, please contact City Hall at 515.967.2418. source
    • If you have found personal items that may belong to a tornado victim, please bring those items to Bondurant City Hall at 200 2nd St NE source