Many residents of southwest and south-central Iowa are cleaning up their properties following Tuesday night’s severe storms and for at least one family, it marks the second time they’ve faced such a major disaster in just a few years.
Kara Kelly, a spokesperson for the Red Cross in Des Moines, says volunteers are helping the family after the roof was blown off their home just east of Lewis in Cass County. “Three years ago, the family’s home was destroyed by fire and the Red Cross assisted them at that time as well,” Kelly said.
The two adults and two children were not injured in the storm, which packed wind gusts of 70 to 85 miles an hour and large hail. “The family is okay, everybody is doing well…they’re just trying to figure out what their next steps are,” Kelly said. Red Cross workers are meeting with the family to help them find a place to stay and any other needs they have, according to Kelly.
Red Cross disaster workers also responded to house fires this morning in three Iowa towns: Centerville, Fort Dodge, and Fairfield. Kelly did not know many details about those fires, but said the families would be provided with food, clothing, shelter and emergency items, as needed. You can help the Red Cross by making donations at www.redcross.org or 1-800-RED-CROSS.