Storms kill 1, injure another and displace hundreds of inmates in Nebraska
Share this @internewscast.com


OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Strong storms before dawn Saturday in eastern Nebraska killed one person and seriously injured another in a state park and displaced hundreds of inmates after two prison housing units were damaged, officials said, even as other Midwest states also braced for bad weather.

The Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department was called to Two Rivers state park just before 7 a.m. Saturday, where first responders found a vehicle crushed by a large cottonwood tree. The tree had toppled as the storm brought gusts higher than 80 mph (129 kph) to the area, according to the National Weather Service. A woman in the vehicle was declared dead at the scene, while a man was trapped inside, the fire department said in a news release.

It took firefighters about 90 minutes to free the man because of the size and weight of the tree, the department said. Once free, the man was taken to an Omaha hospital with life-threatening injuries, Waterloo Fire Chief Travis Harlow said.

The state park a popular camping spot is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of Omaha’s western border.

High winds caused widespread damage across eastern Nebraska, toppling trees, damaging roofs and pulling down electrical lines. About 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Omaha in Blair, the roof of a warehouse was torn open by high winds. Thousands of people were left without power in the immediate aftermath.

In the state capital of Lincoln, the storms damaged two housing units at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, displacing 387 prisoners, the state Department of Correctional Services said in a statement.

“There are no reported injuries, and all staff and incarcerated individuals are safe and accounted for,” the agency said.

Strong storms also moved through parts of eastern Wisconsin on Saturday, bringing gusts of 60 mph (97 kph) to the state’s Door Peninsula, the National Weather Service said.

The weather service said more strong storms were possible across the nation’s midsection Saturday night into Sunday, stretching from western Colorado into Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Missouri and into Illinois and Wisconsin.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Court Orders Issued for Emmanuel Haro’s Parents’ Phone Records; Fire Considered Unrelated Incident.

Warrants have been issued to access the cellphones of Emmanuel Haro’s parents…

Will the Menendez Brothers Gain Freedom? Decision Due This Week

Family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez expressed they are “cautiously optimistic”…

Motorist Faces DWI Charges Following Building Explosion in North Carolina

The driver thought to be responsible for a chain of events leading…

“Floodwaters Everywhere: Severe Storm Damage in Maroa”

MAROA, Ill. (WCIA) — Early Tuesday morning around 3 a.m., the Maroa…

Cuomo and O’Reilly Discuss if Race Influences DC Law Enforcement Tactics

() Chris Cuomo and Bill O’Reilly disagree on whether race is a…

Decrease in Violent Crime Following St. Louis Police Crackdown, Report Finds

() Crime is on the decline in St. Louis, according to the…

Trump Criticizes Smithsonian for Emphasizing the Harsh Realities of Slavery

President Trump on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the Smithsonian museums in…

250 University of Iowa Students Begin Semester in Temporary Housing

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Thousands of University of Illinois families arrived on…

Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Filed Against Nancy Mace

On Wednesday, a federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Representative Nancy…

Texas Legislator Files Lawsuit After Spending Night in House Chamber, Opposing DPS Oversight

AUSTIN (KXAN) A Texas legislator who spent the night in the Texas…

Convicted Killer in Family of Missing California Baby’s Mother

Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing. Viewer…

Mystery of Missing Infant: Authorities Seize Vehicle Linked to Emmanuel Haro’s Father

As the probe into the disappearance of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro progresses, investigators…