Severe Weather: Tornadoes and Hail Batter the Central U.S.
At least one tornado struck parts of Nebraska on Friday afternoon, leading to the collapse of an industrial building, injuring at least three people and prompting a widespread emergency response, officials said, a day after tornadoes battered other parts of the Midwest.
The Weather Service issued tornado warnings for much of Omaha, including the downtown area.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office responded to the industrial building at Garner Industries around 3 p.m. and found it “pretty much totally collapsed” with several people trapped inside, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
Three people were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, he said, adding that roughly 70 people were inside when the tornado struck.
The sheriff’s office also received reports of a derailed train in Waverly, Chief Houchin said, adding, “They didn’t require any emergency assistance, so we’re hoping it’s very minor.”
James Davidsaver, the director of Lancaster County Emergency Management in Lincoln, Neb., said that “the community of Waverly was impacted by severe weather, including a tornado early this afternoon.”
Stephanie Fisher, the city administrator for Waverly, said there were no reports of injuries or damage within the city.
“I’ve been told that a business outside of the city between Waverly and Lincoln has been hit by the tornado, and there’s a large amount of emergency personnel out there,” she said.
The Bryan Trauma Center at Bryan West Campus treated two patients who were injured in the tornadoes that had touched down in Lancaster County, said a hospital spokesman, Brad Colee. He said both were in triage.
It was not immediately clear if these were patients from the building collapse.
More severe weather is possible on Saturday
A widespread risk of dangerous weather remains possible by Saturday, spreading from Texas to Michigan.
Cities such as Oklahoma City, Kansas City and Dallas could experience severe storms. Hail ranging in size from golf balls to baseballs could fall and damaging winds would be possible.
The risk continues Sunday
The threat of severe thunderstorms will continue into Sunday, including areas from southeast Texas to western Illinois.
Storms will be slightly less likely to occur but there will still be some risk of some forming and even producing a couple of tornadoes, and generating quarter-size hail and damaging winds.
Livia Albeck-Ripka contributed reporting.