Iowa Storms

I hope that any Forum Members are not impacted by the almost ongoing damage.  Also, those returning through Iowa from the Mo. Swap Meet were not caught up in the wind & hail.

First wave blasted us pretty good around 8:45, straight line winds to 55mph, gusting to 65 or so, but unscathed.  Had a lull for about an hour, and now the wind is back up to around 35, with quick gusts significantly higher, but no problems so far.  The second bow-echo is hitting Harre Haute, Indiana, and onto Indy soon enough.

We were having the 'celebration of life' for my mom at the Newton Ikes, tornado came within a mile of there, probably more like a half mile. Knocked the power out, we had just got started eating supper. Some darn good brisket eaten by cell phone light. Neighbor called and said it missed the farm.

We were returning from the swap meet in Lathrop MO and was able to stay out in front of it.  All rain until 30 miles from home and then rain, sleet, and snow, a little of each.  Had a good time at the swap meet.

This one was a few miles east of me. Our church is the disaster center for Winterset. I got there about 8:30 this morning. By 8:45 the Red Cross cross had an enclosed truck full of supplies in the drive. We skipped Sunday school to unload. I was more in the way than I was helpful. Water and many other things were unloaded. They also had breakfast in the church building. A police officer was in attendance organizing things. Our disaster trailer can feed several hundred people per day but they didn't need it. They did open it and pull the chain saws out. I volunteered my saws, both pickups and 3 trailers. I have yet to hear from anyone. I was going to deliver an order to Des Moines on Tuesday but I think I'll do it tomorrow in case they need a pickup and trailer. Our local owned hardware store usually opens at noon. They were open when I came buy early this am. I did stop buy later, they were busy. Our local big box hardware store didn't open up till their usual time. I actually detest that store. You could walk around in it all day long and no employee would bother to ask you if you needed help. Eight people lost their lives. Pastor spent the majority of the night at the hospital. The majority of homes destroyed were less than 3 years old. I hope their insurance will cover the increased cost of lumber. Keep a praying for them folks a lot of them lost all they had. One gal and her daughter were actually stuck in a closet. Mom couldn't get cell phone reception in the closet.
They were safe but it scared the heck outta both of them.