Reports of damage, deaths come in after tornadoes touch down in Iowa

Reports of damage, deaths come in after tornadoes touch down in Iowa

GREENFIELD — A small town about 60 miles southwest of the Des Moines metro has been hit by what meteorologists called a dangerous tornado, killing multiple residents and injuring at least a dozen others.

The heart of Greenfield is almost completely flattened. What’s left of homes are piles of rubble. Trees are stripped of their bark, while some are uprooted. Dozens of emergency vehicles line streets that are no longer walkable. Power lines are down.

Drone video posted to social media shows the path the tornado took through town with structures in its path destroyed and cars flipped. Those on the periphery sustained damage, some with roofs completely gone.

Sgt. Alex Dinkla, spokesperson with the Iowa State Patrol, confirmed the deaths at a news conference late Tuesday night. He did not know an exact number of those killed or injured, but estimated at least a dozen people were hospitalized. Dinkla did not think there were people still missing as of Tuesday evening but searches were still underway to confirm.

The Adair County Health System hospital was damaged, a MercyOne spokesperson told the Register. Windows at the hospital and on cars parked at the lot were shattered. People were seen leaving the building with suitcases, and the spokesperson said the hospital was evacuated.

Dinkla said patients who were already getting treatment there were transported to other hospitals.

Former state Rep. Clel Baudler said the fast-moving twister hit shortly after he arrived back home around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon from a trip to Texas. The tornado caused extensive damage and injuries in Greenfield and prompted authorities to limit traffic in and out of the Adair County town of more than 2,000.