'Like a freight train': Videos show widespread destruction as tornadoes ravage Nebraska and Iowa, more storms pose perilous threats
Parts of Nebraska and Iowa were ravaged by powerful tornadoes on Friday. Weather experts predict that new storms could bring even more destruction to the Midwest region.
Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by the ferocity of the storm's fury, especially in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska.
— (@)
On Saturday, residents of Elkhorn were sifting through the rubble after a tornado decimated the area.
“We watched it touch down like 200 yards over there and then we took shelter,” said Pat Woods – who lives in Elkhorn. "We could hear it coming through. When we came up, our fence was gone and we looked to the northwest and the whole neighborhood's gone.”
Kim Woods, Pat's wife, added, “The whole neighborhood just to the north of us is pretty flattened.”
Jason Sunday – a resident of Elkhorn in Omaha – told KETV, "We saw it coming from the southwest, and when it got too close for comfort, we headed downstairs quickly. We were in the downstairs bathtub, and it was just like the movie said, it was like a freight train."
Three people were hurt with non-life-threatening injuries when a tornado caused an industrial building to collapse in Nebraska’s Lancaster County. There were 70 people inside, but they were able to be evacuated.
Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci said and police and firefighters were going door-to-door to help residents.
— (@)
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen toured the area worst affected by the tornadoes in his state.
Pillen said on the X social media platform:
Suzanne and I extend our deepest prayers to all those impacted by today's storms. I have ordered that state resources be made available to assist with the emergency response and to support local first responders as they assess the damage. Nebraskans are tough, resilient people, and our neighbors and communities will rally around affected families and businesses to assist them. Nebraskans are no strangers to severe weather and, as they have countless times before, Nebraskans will help Nebraskans to rebuild.
— (@)
In Iowa, the small towns of Minden and Harlan were some of the hardest hit by the destructive tornadoes.
— (@)
— (@)
There were nearly 80 reports of tornadoes on Friday across five states that were corroborated by weather service data and storm chaser recordings.
There have been several reports of injuries but thankfully no fatalities have been reported.
More updates on the severe weather in the Midwest:
- Four people in Iowa's Pottawattamie County suffered storm-related injuries and needed medical attention, according to county emergency management officials.
- Pottawattamie County, home to approximately 90,000 residents, witnessed damage to roughly 120 homes and businesses, with varying degrees of destruction reported, emergency officials stated.
- In Omaha, two individuals received minor injuries following a tornado in the Elkhorn area on Friday. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer credited the city and county's effective warning systems for mitigating further casualties, stressing the the benefits of early alerts.
- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation to aid storm recovery efforts in Pottawattamie County following the tornado that ravaged Minden.
- Emergency responders in Nebraska's Shelby and Douglas counties reported significant property damage from multiple tornadoes on Friday. Residents were forced to evacuate due to the storm's devastation.
- Texas witnessed at least two tornadoes on Friday afternoon, as captured in social media footage.
Threats of severe weather – including damaging winds, possible flooding, and large hail – are in play for Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 50 million people are under the threat of severe weather on Saturday.
Approximately 18 million people across Nebraska, Iowa, and Texas, are under flood watches until Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service
There were tornado warnings issued for the Midwest.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Kansas and Nebraska until 7 p.m. CDT.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
More than a dozen tornadoes touch down across Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska www.youtube.com
www.theblaze.com
freebeacon.com
Apple hired THIS famous actress for the WORST climate change commercial yet
Octavia Spencer may just have played her worst role yet.
The actress starred in a bizarre five-minute Apple ad showing CEO Tim Cook and staff being scolded over their green credentials by her character: Mother Nature.
Cook later posted on X (formerly Twitter) to say: “At Apple, we believe that climate change is one of the world’s most urgent priorities and we are deeply committed to doing our part.”
Stu Burguiere is not a fan.
“Cringey is a good word for it, but it does not describe how awful this actually is,” he says, before tearing into the climate change-inspired spot.
The ad begins with Octavia Spencer being welcomed as Mother Nature by Tim Cook, who asks “How was the weather getting in?”
The weather then changes, and Spencer rolls her eyes, looks at Cook, and says, “However I wanted it to be.”
“Ah, see, she could change the weather, wherever she wants. And here’s the thing, then just change it so global warming's not happening. Right? Couldn’t you just stop all the catastrophes?” Stu asks, adding, “Well, I guess that’s not going to be answered by this stupid Apple ad.”
While he believes the ad itself is awful, he sees right through it — to the actual point. “This is really just a piece of corporate propaganda to try to make you believe that they are the greenest, most nice company in the entire universe.”
The ad continues with Spencer questioning the steps Apple has taken to stop climate change.
“You promised to bring Apple’s entire carbon footprint to zero. By 2030. Henry David Thoreau over here said we have a profound opportunity to build a more sustainable future for the planet we share,” she says, referring to Cook as Thoreau.
Again, Stu recognizes the scene for what it is.
While Spencer’s character is Mother Nature that’s scolding Apple employees, she represents a very real person.
“Instead of Mother Nature coming into these corporate boards and demanding they change the way they make their products and judging them like Mother Nature is judging Apple, there’s just some paid activist who comes in and has some, you know, corporate initiative to spread to stockholders and ESG people and try to make it look like they actually care about the environment,” Stu says.
Want more from Stu?
To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.