The National Weather Service reports a tornado that passed through the far southwest Iowa town of Thurman packed peak winds of 125- miles-an-hour. The EF-2 twister toppled hundreds of trees and power lines. Thurman Mayor Rod Umphreys says all of the nearly 230 residents of the town were impacted in some way.

“Probably a little less than 100-percent of the homes have some damage – from a just a few shingles or siding damage to total loss,” Umphreys said. At least 14 homes in Thurman were destroyed, while two dozen more were heavily damaged. There were no reports of serious injuries.

“There were none, I mean, a few bumps and bruises,” Umphreys said. “It’s amazing, because it was a direct hit on a lot of houses and a direct hit on the town. To not have any fatalities or serious injuries, not even a broken bone, it is amazing.” Umphreys is equally amazed with the flood of volunteers who’ve turned out to help with the cleanup effort.

In addition to Iowans, volunteers have come from the states of Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin and Montana. “We had over 900 volunteers (Sunday) and we’re well over a couple hundred today already, with more on the way,” Umphreys said. “We couldn’t do this without all the volunteer help and the donations of equipment and materials.”

The National Weather Service in Omaha reports the tornado that struck Thurman first touched down around 5:30 p.m. Saturday and covered a path of 10.8 miles from northeast of Percival, through Thurman, before lifting one mile south of Tabor. Fremont County authorities said the only people who required hospitalization were four truckers who’s semis were blown over on Interstate 29.

A flipped vehicle near Creston's hospital

Clean-up is underway in the southwest Iowa towns of Thurman and Creston following Saturday’s strike in each community by tornadoes.

An EF2 tornado that destroyed much of Thurman produced wind speeds of about 115 mph, according to an initial estimate from the National Weather Service.

The twister that tore through Thurman, touched down for 10 miles and left a half-mile-wide path of destruction according to the weather service.

A demolished house in Creston

The town has about 100 homes and virtually every one sustained at least some damage.

Reports say at least 14 homes in Thurman were destroyed, two-dozen more were heavily damaged.

In Creston, the storm and its damaging winds of up 130 mph hit around 7 p.m. Saturday, and according to early estimates from the National Weather Service was also rated F2 on the Fujita scale.

Fremont County Emergency Managment Coordinator Mike Crecilius says it’s a miracle there was no loss of life with the storm.

Tornado damage in Thurman -- Photo thanks to Chuck Morris, KMA, Shenandoah

There’s damage to Creston’s hospital and to Southwestern Community College. Six people were reported hurt in Creston, one of them critically.

By Chuck Morris, KMA, Shenandoah

Creston pictures thanks to Brandon Lewis, KSIB, Creston

National Weather Service officials have been holding training sessions this month for “spotters” who are on the look-out for tornado touch-downs and other severe weather. Todd Heitkamp, a National Weather Service meterologist, suggests the storm chasing should be left to the folks who’ve gone through that training.

“When we issue a warning, we want people to take action based upon that warning,” Heitkamp says. “We don’t want them to go outside looking for it. However, if you do go outside, which we know most people will generally do, we need them to make sure that you realize that you may not be able to see that tornado right away, but if your gut is telling you that you are in danger — and there is common sense involved here – and if you feel that sense of urgency, listen to that instinct, and get to your place of safety as soon as possible.”

According to Heitkamp, people are much more likely to seek shelter when a tornado warning has been issued than when a severe thunderstorm warning’s issued. However, Heitkamp says some severe thunderstorms contain strong, straight-line winds that can do just as much damage as a tornado.

“I don’t care if the wind is rotating or if it’s going straight — if it’s moving 100-150 miles an hour, it is still severe,” Heitkamp says, “and you need to take action, based on that wind speed.”

Heitkamp works at the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which issues warnings and watches for 11 counties in the northwest quadrant of the state, including the cities of Spencer, Storm Lake and Sioux City.

By Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars