Northwest Iowa — Nearly every county in Iowa received some type of storm damage in Wednesday night’s unprecedented December storm system.
The National Weather Service’s Sioux Falls office says they had never issued a severe thunderstorm warning or a tornado warning in December — until Wednesday.
Damage varied from little to no damage to major damage in greater northwest Iowa.
In O’Brien County, Emergency Management Director Jared Johnson reports that the strong winds caused large tree branches to fall in Sutherland, Calumet, Paullina, Primghar, Sheldon, Sanborn, and Hartley.
He says there were several reports of other damage as well, such as a machine shed that was destroyed southeast of Sutherland. He says debris from that building landed on Highway 10, which was closed for a while. A large tree branch landed on commercial property in Sutherland, causing significant roof damage. A hoop building east of the fire station was destroyed in Sutherland. A cattle yard building was reported to be damaged north of Sutherland on Vine Avenue.
Johnson says power outages were noted at different times in Paullina, Calumet, and Sutherland, and road signs were damaged in multiple areas throughout the county, including stop signs damaged along Vine Avenue north of Sutherland.
Johnson says that if there is anyone that needs warming shelter assistance due to current power outages in O’Brien County this time or any time, you can call 712-757-3415.
In Sioux County, Emergency Management Director Nate Huizenga says they lucked out, with only a powerline down in Granville and some short power outages.
In the wider area, the National Weather Service tells us they have reports of buildings destroyed in rural Cleghorn and buildings damaged in both rural Larrabee and rural Marcus.
Damage was reported to be significant to houses and other structures in Aurelia and Kingsley.
Photos taken by O’Brien County Emergency Management
