Violent weather claims one life, harms another, and forces the evacuation of hundreds of prison inmates in Nebraska.
A series of powerful storms swept through eastern Nebraska on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The most significant damage was caused by winds as high as 90-91 mph, resulting in downed trees and widespread power outages.
The storm's impact was felt most acutely at the Two Rivers State Park, a popular camping spot located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of Omaha's western border. Tragically, a woman lost her life when a tree fell on her vehicle, seriously injuring a man who was with her. Emergency services took around 90 minutes to free the man from the crushed vehicle[3].
At the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, the storms caused extensive damage to the roofs of two housing units, displacing 387 prisoners[2][4]. Despite the damage, all staff and incarcerated individuals were reported safe and accounted for.
Other affected areas experienced mostly minor damage, including numerous fallen trees in Lincoln and Omaha. However, the storm's main destructive force was the high winds, and the damage was concentrated around these areas in eastern Nebraska[1][4].
In Blair, about 20 miles north of Omaha, the roof of a warehouse was torn open by high winds. As of now, there have been no reported injuries in this incident.
The National Weather Service reported gusts higher than 80 mph during the storm. In eastern Wisconsin, strong storms also moved through parts of the state, with gusts of 60 mph reported in eastern Wisconsin's Door Peninsula.
The affected areas include western Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. More strong storms are possible across the nation's midsection from Saturday night into Sunday[4].
[1] National Weather Service [2] Nebraska Department of Correctional Services [3] Omaha Fire Department [4] Associated Press
- The general news on Sunday may include a report about the car-accident at Two Rivers State Park, where a woman lost her life due to a falling tree, and a man was seriously injured.
- Despite the severe weather conditions, weather-forecasting agencies predicted gusts as high as 80 mph in eastern Nebraska, which resulted in car-accidents, downed trees, and power outages.
- The US today is experiencing a series of powerful storms, with the midsection of the country, including Nebraska, Wisconsin, and other states, expected to face more strong storms from Saturday night into Sunday, potentially causing further car-accidents and damage.
