At least seven people in northeast Iowa are dead after tornadoes tore across the Butler, Grundy and Black Hawk Counties Sunday afternoon. The city of Parkersburg was hit hard as a tornado believed to be a mile wide tore through the area.
Butler County Auditor Holly Fokkena says they are asking people to stay away from the area and allow emergency crews to pick up the pieces. Fokkena says law officers are asking that people stay home to let law and emergency offices to do their job. Fokkena says besides the devastation in Parkersburg and New Hartford, people in the community of Sinclair just east of Parkersburg were evacuated after the twister tore through their area.
Fokkena says inbetween Parkersburg and New Hartford, the Sinclair elevator was hit and a large anhydrous ammonia tank forced the evacuation of a large number of rural residents. Fokkena says a dozen homes and numerous other buildings were damaged in the New Hartford, while Parkersburg lost several homes and the high school was destroyed.
Governor Chet Culver issued a state disaster proclamation for Blackhawk, Butler Counties. The Governor plans to visit the storm damaged areas today.