GREENFIELD, Iowa (KGAN) — Multiple people were killed on Tuesday when a tornado ripped through Greenfield, Iowa, destroying homes, twisting wind turbines to the ground and splintering trees in a storm system that tore through the Midwest.
Much of Greenfield was destroyed in the tornado that also damaged the small town's hospital, forcing emergency responders to take people who were injured to other facilities.
“Sadly we can confirm that there have been fatalities,” Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla said at a news conference Tuesday night. “We’re still counting at this time.”
All of the town's residents were accounted for as of Tuesday night, but Dinkla said searches would resume if anyone was reported missing. A triage center was set up at the local high school for people who needed medical attention, which also served as a reunification point for people separated during the storm and a temporary shelter for people who lost their homes in the storm.
A mandatory curfew was put in place for Greenfield Tuesday night and only residents of the town were allowed to enter it until Wednesday morning.
Multiple tornadoes were reported throughout the state as part of a severe storm system that swept across the Midwest, bringing heavy rain, hail and massive power outages across several states.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she planned to visit Greenfield on Wednesday morning.
“It was just a few weeks ago that tornadoes hit several other Iowa communities, and it’s hard to believe that it’s happened again,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Iowans are strong and resilient, and we will get through this together.”
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