Violent weather events lead to the death of one person, injure another, and force the relocation of numerous prisoners within Nebraska.
Strong storms with hurricane-force winds swept through parts of the Midwest on Saturday, causing widespread power outages, downed trees, and injuries. The National Weather Service predicted more strong storms across the region, including western Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
In Nebraska, the storm caused widespread damage, particularly in the Lincoln and Omaha areas. The National Weather Service recorded gusts of up to 60 mph in the state's Door Peninsula, and gusts higher than 80 mph were reported in other areas. The storm resulted in one death and serious injuries to another person in Two Rivers state park.
However, there is no information in the available reports about significant infrastructure damage to prisons, casualties including deaths, or displacement of inmates. The damage at the Nebraska State Penitentiary was limited to two housing units, displacing 387 prisoners, but all staff and incarcerated individuals are safe and accounted for. No injuries were reported at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
In Two Rivers state park, a man was trapped inside a vehicle crushed by a large cottonwood tree. It took approximately 90 minutes to free him due to the size and weight of the tree. The victim in the park was a woman found dead at the scene. The injured man was taken to an Omaha hospital with life-threatening injuries.
In Blair, about 20 miles north of Omaha, the roof of a warehouse was torn open by high winds. Strong storms also affected parts of eastern Wisconsin, but reports of damage and injuries are not as extensive as in Nebraska.
Thousands of people were left without power in the immediate aftermath of the storm in eastern Nebraska. The storm caused widespread damage, including the toppling of trees, damage to roofs, and the pulling down of electrical lines. Despite the severity of the storm, no evidence supports the occurrence of notable prison-related damage or inmate displacement from these storms.
- The storm in Nebraska, part of the general news about the severe weather, caused a car accident in Two Rivers state park, leaving a man trapped and seriously injured.
- In addition to the accidents caused by the storm, the severe weather in Nebraska also resulted in downed trees, damaged roofs, and power outages, affecting many residents.
