Iowa First Lady Mari Culver visited tornado-ravaged Parkersburg and New Hartford today. Culver told the storm victims and volunteers at a Salvation Army meal site that the state and its citizens are in this for the long-haul.
"Parkersburg and the other towns and communities will continue to need help, will continue to need volunteers," Culver said, "and are grateful for the fantastic assistance of so many good-hearted volunteers." Culver urged Iowans to consider spending a few days in the tornado zone.
"Look at your summer schedule, look at your fall schedule and figure out when you can come and help and how Parkersburg can use your time and talents because believe me in a couple of weeks or a couple of months when most of the debris is removed there will be a continuing, perhaps even a greater need for help," Culver said.
Culver told reporters she was impressed with how much progress there’s been in a week. A tornado with wind speeds above 200 miles an hour struck Parkersburg and New Hartford on Sunday, May 25, killing seven and leaving 43-mile-long path of destruction.