Rock Valley, Iowa — One home in western Rock Valley was partially demolished during a severe storm that passed through part of the region early Thursday morning (July 4th).
The home located at the corner of 12th Street and 8th Avenue in Rock Valley was severely damaged by a micro-burst, according to Todd Heitkamp, the Meteorologist In Charge of the National Weather Service Office in Sioux Falls. Heitkamp was on the ground in Rock Valley Thursday morning conducting a damage assessment.
A micro-burst is a sudden, powerful, localized downdraft air current. A micro-burst often has high winds that can knock over fully grown trees. They usually last for seconds to minutes.
Heitkamp tells KIWA that the micro-burst in this case was an 80-mile-per-hour micro-burst that devastated the home, with debris causing serious damage to the home next door to the south. In addition, a utility pole and several trees were snapped, causing a small fire. Several other homes received some roof and siding damage, as well.
Heitkamp says the damage occurred about 2:45 Thursday morning, and, he says, the family that lives in the heavily damaged house were home at the time, but escaped injury.
Storm damage in Rock Valley was confined to about a four-block area.
Below are some images of storm damage in Rock Valley — Photo by KIWA Staff
Rock Valley Home Partially Destroyed By “Micro-Burst” — KIWA Staff Photo
Rock Valley Home Heavily Damaged By “Micro-Burst” — KIWA Staff Photo
Debris From Partially Destroyed Rock Valley Home Causes Significant Damage To Neighboring Home To The South — KIWA Staff Photo
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Original post 8:15am 7/4/2019
Rock Valley, Iowa — Several homes were damaged by high winds in Rock Valley early Thursday morning (July 4th).
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, about 2:45 Thursday morning a house at the corner of 12th Street and 8th Avenue in Rock Valley sustained heavy damage when the roof, along with most of the home’s walls, were removed from it. The Weather Service says debris damaged homes to the east, as well. A Weather Service report says a utility pole and several trees snapped, starting a small fire. Several other homes had some siding and roof damage.
According to the National Weather Service, damage was concentrated in about a four-block area.
The Weather Service says they will have people in Rock Valley Thursday to assess the damage.
