Violent weather causes one death, leaves another injured, and forces the evacuation of numerous prisoners in Nebraska.
Strong Storms Cause Devastation in Eastern Nebraska
A line of thunderstorms swept through eastern Nebraska early Saturday morning, bringing hurricane-force winds that left a trail of destruction in their wake. The powerful storms, which produced gusts exceeding 90 mph in several areas, caused widespread damage across the region, from Lincoln to Omaha.
The storms resulted in the death of one person and serious injuries to another at Two Rivers State Park, located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of Omaha’s western border. A large cottonwood tree was toppled, crushing a vehicle, and the man inside was trapped for approximately 90 minutes before being rescued. He was taken to an Omaha hospital with life-threatening injuries. The victim was a woman.
Two housing units at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln were damaged due to the storm, displacing 387 prisoners. However, all staff and incarcerated individuals at the facility are safe and accounted for. In Blair, about 20 miles north of Omaha, the roof of a warehouse was torn open by high winds, and thousands of people were left without power in the immediate aftermath.
Despite the damage, no reported injuries occurred at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Injuries were reported at Two Rivers State Park, but details are limited. The National Weather Service predicts more strong storms across the midsection of the United States, including western Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Gusts of 60 mph were recorded on the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin, as strong storms also moved through parts of eastern Wisconsin on Saturday. The storms caused numerous downed trees and power lines, flooding from high water on streets, and property damage in heavily treed neighborhoods, especially in North Omaha and areas between Elkhorn and Bennington.
As emergency services continue to assess and respond to the damage caused by the storms, monitoring local emergency management or law enforcement releases may be helpful for further updates, especially concerning inmates or specifics on damage and response.
Car-accidents were reported in various areas across eastern Nebraska, as devastating storms swept through the region and produced hurricane-force winds. General-news outlets are predicting more strong storms across the midsection of the United States, including western Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin, where weather conditions are expected to cause additional accidents and potential damage.
