Early assessments indicate seven properties and a hog confinement were impacted by a tornado that touched down east of Minden overnight.
The early Tuesday morning storm comes just 10 days after tornado activity devastated several areas of Pottawattamie County, including much of Minden.
No injuries were reported in the latest tornado, according to a news release Tuesday morning from Pottawattamie County.
Officials say in the release that there was no major damage to homes in the area but several outbuildings and trees were destroyed. Power poles were snapped in the storm, and the area experienced temporary power disruptions. Power was restored in Neola before midnight and restored in Minden as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has deployed a field assessment team to survey the damage and to estimate the tornado’s rating, peak winds, length, width and track.
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"That tornado touched down at 9:12 (p.m.) about 1½ miles southeast of Minden," Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, told the Omaha World-Herald Tuesday. "We have investigators there and we can see some debris. There are reports of power lines and trees down."
Nicolaisen told the World-Herald that another tornado touched down in Mills County on Monday night about seven miles west of Glenwood. Early reports from the Glenwood area, he said, found damage to outbuildings, power lines and trees.
Pottawattamie County Emergency Management has partnered with Samaritans Purse, who is continuing to organize volunteers to assist in impacted areas throughout the county. To sign up to volunteer, call 531-242-2206. On-site safety meetings are required before volunteering.
Those still in need of assistance around their house and property can call 833-747-1234 to speak to a Samaritans Purse representative. Disaster survivors can also access food items, hygiene products and household resources from multiple locations:
• Crescent City Hall, 102 W Florence St., Crescent
• Neola Area Community Center, 110 Fourth St., Neola
• Charles E. Lakin Foundation, 705 N 16th St., Council Bluffs
• Treynor City Hall, 11 West Main St., Treynor
Additional Multi-Agency Resource Centers like this weekend's in Minden are being planned.
Federal disaster declaration request underway
Teams of local and state emergency management personnel, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration will conduct a joint preliminary damage assessment — the formal validation assessment of data submitted by local officials and impacted residents and business owners to support the governor’s request for federal assistance.
After the assessment is completed, FEMA will make its recommendation to the president. Local officials are hopeful to be informed of a positive determination in the coming days, according to a news release.
Farmers should assess property carefully
“No matter the situation, I encourage people to assess their property and take note of any debris or damage," Mike Witt, a field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach in west central Iowa, said in a release.
Witt said storm debris can easily be hiding along fence lines or in grass waterways. He encourages landowners to inspect their property now, before the spring growing season causes further disguise of debris.
“Right now, it’s easy to see debris because the crops are not as tall,” he said. “I recommend checking your fields and buildings now, while the storm is still on your mind.”
Witt also suggests landowners use good sense when deciding how much cleanup they can do on their own. First, they need to assess the severity of the damage and whether to contact their insurance agent.
If the landowner feels confident, they can proceed with cleanup. However, Witt reminds everyone that storm debris is often sharp and jagged and can be heavier than people anticipate. If debris is in the fields, he reminds landowners to be careful when driving across soft, rain-soaked ground.