Tornadoes wreaked havoc in the Midwest on Friday, causing a building to collapse with dozens of people inside and destroying and damaging hundreds of homes, particularly around Omaha, Nebraska. Despite several reports of injuries, no immediate deaths were reported as of Friday night.
In Nebraska’s Lancaster County, a tornado hit an industrial building, causing it to collapse with 70 people inside. Fortunately, everyone was evacuated, and the injuries were not life-threatening. The destructive tornado moved through rural farmland before hitting homes in the suburbs of Omaha, causing widespread damage.
Photos on social media showed heavy damage in Minden, Iowa, about 30 miles northeast of Omaha. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches across parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, warning of possible large hail and strong wind gusts.
In Omaha, hundreds of homes were damaged, with the Elkhorn area being the hardest hit. Emergency crews went door-to-door to assist residents, searching for anyone trapped in the debris. Despite the devastation, only a few serious injuries were reported, thanks to early warnings.
The tornado warning in Omaha came just as children were being released from school, prompting many schools to shelter in place until the storm passed. The National Weather Service planned to send crews to assess the number and strength of the tornadoes over the next few days.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen ordered state resources to assist with the emergency response and support first responders. Nebraskans are coming together to rebuild after the destructive tornadoes tore through the region, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.