The small town of Greenfield, Iowa, was left devastated after a tornado ripped through the area, leaving residents scrambling to help each other in the aftermath.
Residents wasted no time in using skid loaders to clear the streets and makeshift ambulances to transport the wounded to a medical triage center at the local lumberyard, as the hospital had been damaged in the storm. Paramedics and police officers from across western Iowa rushed to the scene to assist with rescue efforts.
The destruction in Greenfield was immense, with some areas flattened into debris and multiple fatalities reported. The National Weather Service classified the tornado as at least EF-3 in severity, using the 0-to-5 rating system.
As residents began to assess the damage, they were met with scenes of chaos and destruction. Homes were reduced to slabs while others remained untouched. Longtime residents stared at their battered homes, some beyond repair.
Despite the warnings from tornado sirens and emergency alerts, the storm’s intensity overwhelmed many. Sarah Wildin, an assistant manager at a gas station, described the pressure change and the deafening sound of the tornado as it tore through the town.
As rescue crews worked tirelessly to sift through the wreckage, residents started to come to terms with the fact that their proud community had been forever changed. State legislator Ray Sorensen expressed concern for the future of local businesses that had been destroyed, wondering if they would be able to recover from such devastation.
The community came together in the face of tragedy, with Kendalyn Huff offering free refreshments at her restaurant and residents supporting each other in any way they could. The town of Greenfield now faces a long road to recovery, as they try to rebuild and heal from the destruction caused by the tornado.
This latest tornado comes on the heels of a brutal spring in Iowa, with the state still recovering from a previous outbreak of tornadoes in the town of Minden. Governor Kim Reynolds described the devastation in Greenfield as “horrific” and emphasized the need for support and assistance for the affected communities.
