Tornado Rips Path Of Damage Across New Sharon

Paige Miller was out helping to clean up the cemetery in New Sharon after their early morning tornado

New Sharon, Iowa – Residents of New Sharon woke to the sounds of cracking trees and the winds rushing past their windows.

Paige Miller was out helping her community recover from the EF1 tornado that destroyed one third of a self-storage building on the West side of Highway 63. She said that she found out about the storm early Monday morning when her mom woke her up and told her about it. And like many others, her and her family were without power. “We came out this morning and it was all torn up and everything.” Paige said of seeing the damage that occurred. Paige was one of many local residents that pitched in to help, “Seeing it like this…. made me want to come out and help.”

As the day went on, the sounds of the storm turned into the sounds of chainsaws and generators, as the residents of the small town picked up the pieces and banded together.

Mahaska County Emergency Manager Jamey Robinson was on scene nearly all day.

Clean up and repairing of infastructure were a top priority in New Sharon on Monday

“We had two 2×6’s nailed together that were four foot in the ground.” Robinson said of the force of the storm. Robinson said that the majority of the damage was focused on the South section of town. Trees and limbs that were uprooted or blown over were a common sight. “Sort of trying to make sure the infrastructure gets up. We clean up any possible “flying missiles” because of high winds [possible in potential upcoming severe weather]. Get it cleaned up just in time for the next one.”

The Mahaska County CERT team was activated today, and those volunteers joined the local firefighters and other volunteers in helping to get New Sharon back on it’s feet as quickly as possible. Up to 15 members of the team were present at any one time during the day. “Mahaska County community pulling together.” Robinson said.

The City of New Sharon and their volunteer Fire Department were assisted by volunteers from Lynnville, Sully, Montezuma, and Oskaloosa to name a few.

Robinson reminded residents that more severe weather was expected for last night and today. He said that Jeff Johnson of the National Weather Service in Des Moines informed him that “this is probably one of the strongest storm seasons he has seen in quite some time, and the storm they are predicting starting tonight and into tomorrow is actually kind of a late storm.” Meaning that you don’t see storms like this in June, you see them in May.

Damage was extensive in the Southern part of New Sharon

New Sharon Fire Chief Steve Gerard said that the storm was unexpected, as during that time the only official watch was that of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 521. No sirens were sounded as NWS radar did not indicate the presence of rotation, and there were no warnings associated with this storm before hand. It’s a prime example of why they say that even though it is only a watch, you must be prepared for the unexpected.

Gerard said they got the call around quarter after five in the morning of power lines down on 63. “We got more than just wires down.” was Gerard’s, and the others that responded, reaction to the site.

Before the Weather Service arrived, they had attempted to keep people from doing much more clean up than was necessary so the experts could investigate what the storm was.

Gerard said that no one was hurt in the early morning storm. He did point out it could have been a very different story if it had been just East by a few more blocks; that it could have hit the mobile home park that is located on the East side of town.

The storm report, put out by the National Weather Service, detailed the storm as follows from their storm survey: Track length 1/2 mile and path width 50 yards. Estimated winds of 110 mph. Numerous trees downed with some trees on top of houses. Power lines downed and a storage shed shifted from it’s foundation. Cars thrown into a ditch. Winds ripped the footings of some gravestones out and toppled them. Primarily on the South side of town. Time estimated from radar.