Mahaska EMA Office Assists Neighbors

This rural Monroe County farm home was struck by an EF3 tornado Monday afternoon. The occupants of the home escaped injury after hearing the warnings on KIIC radio of the impending danger. (photo by Mahaska EMA)

Mahaska County, Iowa – Mahaska County has been lucky so far this year. Most of the severe weather to impact the area has slammed into counties adjoining Mahaska County.

On Sunday and Monday, Monroe and Wapello Counties received extensive damage from tornadoes, hail and wind.

Mahaska County Emergency Manager Jamey Robinson joined others in helping National Weather Service in their assessment of the tornado that formed just southeast of Columbia in Marion County.

The tornado clipped the northeast corner of Lucas County before it entered Monroe County 2 miles after it developed. The track of the tornado was mostly across rural areas of Monroe County, where a house about 6.5 miles southwest of Lovilia sustained EF3 damage. The wind speeds are estimated to have been 142 MPH when it impacted the home.

After striking the rural home, the path of the tornado became intermittent for a few miles, from just west of Hiteman to just northwest of Albia, when the track one again tightened up.

Damage occurred to businesses and houses on the southwest side of Albia. When the tornado struck the Hy-Vee store and other locations it was an EF1 strength, with estimated winds of 103 MPH. The tornado continued southeast where it eventually lifted six-and-a-half miles southeast of Albia.

Robinson joined his counterpart from Marion County in assisting Monroe and Davis Counties in the assessment. All search and rescue operations had been completed the night before.

Robinson also worked alongside National Weather Service doing damage assessments. Robinson used a Drone or Unmanned Airial Vehicle (UAV) to help gain a perspective from above the damage, in order to help NWS better assess the path of the tornado and view damage to timber areas that were more remote.

Robinson said that, at its widest, the tornado was 1/4 of a mile wide.

With more weather coming tonight, be prepared. Mahaska county has had 2 near hits the last 2 weeks. Remember it’s not a matter of “if”, but “when”.