At least one person was killed and 16 others were in critical condition on Monday after massive tornadoes swept through northeast Nebraska, destroying more than half of the town of Pilger, hospital and emergency officials said.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service were also tracking a tornado near the town of Burwell, in central Nebraska.
"We are still in a response mode in these communities," said Earl Imler, NEMA's operations officer. "We are collecting damage reports from local officials on the ground." Faith Regional Health Services in nearby Norfolk was treating 16 patients with
Most residents made their own arrangements, but some were taken to a shelter in the nearby town of Wisner, Unger said.
Picture for representational purpose only.
The County Sheriff said five people had to be rescued from a rural home day care facility northwest of Stanton. That home was hit just before the storm moved into Pilger.
Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger estimated that 50 to 75 percent of Pilger was heavily damaged or destroyed in the storm. The local school is likely beyond repair, he said. "It's total devastation," said Unger.
"More than half of the town is gone — absolutely gone," Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt said. "The co-op is gone, the grain bins are gone, and it looks like almost every house in town has some damage. It's a complete mess."
Victims were taken to three regional hospitals, and at least one had died from unspecified injuries, hospital officials said.
Emergency crews and residents spent the evening sorting through demolished homes and businesses in the town of about 160 kilometers northwest of Omaha.
The National Weather Service said at least two tornadoes touched down within roughly 1.6 kilometers of each other.