Community Lends a Hand in Rebuilding Thurman, IA
People across the Midwest are cleaning up Monday after a violent storm system ripped across at least five states this weekend.
Omaha, NE – People across the Midwest are cleaning up Monday after a violent storm system ripped across at least five states this weekend.
There were reports of more than 100 tornadoes; one of those spots just 45 miles from the metro in Thurman, Iowa.
Cleanup continues and the townspeople are saying they’re lucky no one was killed.
It happened in just minutes, and E-F2 tornado ripped through Thurman almost wiping out the small town of only 250 people.
10 homes were completely destroyed, more than 20 homes heavily damaged and most all of the 100 houses in the town have broken windows or torn roofs.
The winds tore down trees bringing power lines down. Most of the power has been restored this afternoon.
But the real story is that more than 750 registered volunteers have come out to lend a hand. Many turned up as early as 6 am Sunday morning to help with the clean up. Hundreds more followed to help relatives and friends.
Fremont Co. Emergency Management Director, Mike Crecelius says he’s overwhelmed by the response.
“If you would have told me Saturday evening when I arrived in Thurman and walked from the east end of town to the west end, if you would have told me that 24 hours later we’d be able drive through majority of the streets in town I wouldn’t have believed it,” says Crecelius.
There is still more work to be done and folks are still looking for more volunteers. Crecelius says if you have a truck, chain saw or just some time he says come register at city hall and volunteer. There is still a lot of debris from homes and trees that needs to be cleared up.
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