Deadly Twister Rips Up Iowa
It took generations to build Parkersburg, Iowa. It took only seconds to obliterate it.
Sunday afternoon, one of the deadlier tornadoes in Iowa history chewed up much of the this proud, farming community, killing four people in Parkersburg and two in nearby New Hartford. “This town is not just torn up. It’s gone,” stressed Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson.
Johnson’s home was one of more than 400 damaged here. Another 220 buildings were destroyed including the town’s high school, its sole grocery store and its only gas station. “It’s catastrophic,” Johnson told me as he reflected on the damage. “It’s amazing how much energy this storm had.”
The National Weather Service has completed its preliminary damage survey of this tornado, and its data is staggering. It estimates that this twister spun on the ground for more than a hour, leaving behind a swath of damage 43 miles long. At one point, the tornado swelled to 1.2 miles wide and packed winds greater than 165 miles per hour. The assessment of the wind speed, however, may increase significantly when weather officials release their final report on this tornado.
Perry Bernard says the twister tried to suck him out of his home as he huddled in his basement with his family. “I was on top of my wife and kids with the pillows, trying to hold them down. And I could feel it start to pull me out. So, I just braced on to whatever I could.”
The tornado stripped Bernard’s home to its foundation. His family lost nearly everything. Yet the family was able to find some family photos, which his wife, Adriene tightly clutched as she talked to me about surviving this storm. “We’ve got our wedding pictures, our baby pictures, and those are the most important things. They’re irreplaceable.” “And, we’ve got our lives,” Perry Bernard interjected with a slight smile.
Coincidentally, the town installed an additional early warning tornado siren in Parkersburg less than two weeks ago. Firefighter Lean Thorne told me federal funding happened to be available, and there was a concern in this town, that as it grew in population, some parts of the community might be out of range to hear the existing tornado siren. “This community has a lot of pride. It will rebuild,” Thorne told me.
When covering natural disasters over the years, it is mind-boggling to imagine how victims can think long term as they struggle to live just a day at a time. And yet, shredded American flags have been put up on stripped trees throughout Parkersburg. The fortitude is admirable…the symbolism unmistakeable.
Jeff Goldblatt has been a Chicago-based reporter for FNC since 1999. He reported from the front lines in the Middle East during the battle between Hezbollah and Israel, and his coverage on Hurricane Isabel garnered attention from major news sources … and Jay Leno. 
All Iowans are thinking of the folks in Parkersburg and the surrounding communities who were hit. We all know about the ‘clones and how dangerous they are, but this really brings it home again.
The community will rebuild, it’s about the people, not about the buildings in the end.
Our prayers go out to you, and we admire your fortitude in picking up and going on. God Bless.
A fellow Iowan…..
Mind boggling is right……Thank goodness these people can reach down within themselves and find the strength and determination to get up and move forward…
Certainly a most important element in the recovery process which is going to take some time indeed…
Thanks Jeff for your report
Dawn
I live in Benton County just south of Parkersburg and I am also a NWS weather spotter. From what I’ve seen and been told this could have been as large as EF5. With this being a holiday and graduation weekend I’m amazed that even more people didn’t become a victim to this monster.
EMS did a great job. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.
Yes, it is always shocking to see the power of nature, but that is why we have Houses, and all kinds of protection from the weather. and of course, sometimes it still isn’t enough. My heart goes out to the people that were smashed so cruely, but in reality, it could happen to any of us, almost anytime. God bless, and a speedy recovery. Ray
Please pray for the people of Parkersburg. I and my family were trailing the tornado and arrived in Parkersburg (only 14 miles from our town) 5-7 minutes after the twister struck. I will never forget the things I saw with my own eyes on Sunday. Part of what I saw, though, was the selfless volunteers working to save lives amidst utter chaos.
The images you see on television are mostly of the pain of “other people” and “over there.” No longer.
Please pray and consider giving to the Red Cross. Parkersburg truly needs your help.
Perry is my first cousin. I was in the 1992 tornado in Brandon, MS and lost everything. Our Grandmother, who lives in Cedar Falls, can’t believe she has had 2 grandson’s go through this. Stuff can be replaced….lives can’t. I thank God that they are OK and wish they didn’t have to go through this.
My name is Charlie Comfort and I live in Oskaloosa Iowa which is in southern iowa. I just found out that the Parkersburg Tornado was rated an EF-5. This is the first EF-5 since 1976. It is sad about what happened up in Parkersburg. Some of these photos of the destruction are amazing though.
Charlie Comfor
I want all the states that have been devasted by tornadoes and twisters in the past months to know that my prayers are with them in their time of need. We are true Americans when we can reach out to our neighbors so that they can gain safety, help in rebuilding and limit the loss. I give Kudos for the people who work around the clock sending out warnings, watching storms and who goes into the hardest hit places to look for people. That shows the strength we all have when it comes to thinking about others.
It’s very sad for the families in this tornado. Our prayers go to them. I hope they can get some federal aid to assist in the rebuilding process. There has been an unusually high amount of tornadoes in this country this year.
So sorry for all you lossed which is irrelevant to having your lives.
God bless all of you in rebuilding…don’t forget to add the church!
I’m praying for you Parkersburg. I lived in Jordan, Iowa (west of Ames) in 1976 when the F5 tornado hit and destroyed our town. I was 16 then. Every house was destroyed, including ours. We were fortunate that no one was killed, although an 8 yr old boy did have a head injury. It was said on the news that our tornado had been over a mile wide as well. Those tornadoes are monsters, I remember what it looked like. We drove away from the oncoming tornado and watched it move over the town. After it went past, we were the first ones back into town and it was devasting wonder where everyone was. I saw several of my neighbors climb up out of the debris.
Yes, I’m praying for you all. God will take care of you.
I saw this happen a year ago close to my home in a place called Greensburg Kansas, the entire town wiped out. They are beginning to rebuild, it would be cool if these two communities could communicate since they now share a horrific experience and can help each other heal. My thoughts a prayers are with all those in Parkersburg. Hang in there, you can rebound and come back from this. God bless you all.
Don’t get me wrong, I feel for the people of China. However I see all these groups trying to raise money for China releif. How about China releif for Iowa, Oaklahoma and Katrina?
I live in Alabama and there was an F5 tornado here in april 1998, this damage looks very much the same. Except here it killed somewhere around 40 people. I found pieces of roofing, and insulation in my yard and I was probably 20 or so miles away from it. It is just amazing how deadly and powerful these storms can be.
How can I help?
Tornado hit our farm in 1943.New barn went down and all animals not injured. Wood beams came through kitchen windows . Wagon was found in a field miles away.I was 8 yr`s old. I pray for all tornado victims. Mary
In 1943 our farm by Maysville,Ia was hit by a tornado.Our new barn went down but all animals escaped,unharmed. Wood beams came through kitchen windows and a wagon and boards were found in a field miles away .I was 8yr`s old and under the kitchen table. My 2 brother`s slept through it.They were upstairs.. Mary Hart ,then.