Tornado Injures One Person Near Deep River

The EF-1 tornado passes south of Montezuma as it heads towards Deep River on May 29, 2019. (photo by Scott Patterson)

Barnes City, Iowa – It was a surreal sight watching an EF-1 tornado drop from the sky, only to lift moments later, only to once again reach towards the earth. During one of those drops from the clouds, it struck a small farm, damaging buildings and injuring one person as it moved northeast at approximately 20 miles-per-hour. By 7:35 pm, the tornado had lifted off the ground making its way towards Iowa County.

According to a press release from the Poweshiek County Emergency Management, two properties in rural Montezuma, southwest of Deep River were struck and have heavily damaged outbuildings from the tornado. “No homes were significantly damaged. One injury was reported as a result of this tornado. The injuries were minor and not life threatening. No other reports of damaged properties or injuries have been reported as of this press release.”

Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem tracked the funnell cloud as it made its way through Mahaska County, exiting into Poweshiek County. He countinued to monitor the storm until Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived.

The storm was an unusual one. It produced no rain, wind, or lightning, which would indicate that the weather could be dangerous. Once Van Renterghem spotted debris in the air, he called into dispatch to alert the National Weather Service.

Van Renterghem said no damage could be located from the storm in Mahaska County.

The Poweshiek County Emergency Management Agency would like to thank First Responders from Deep River Fire Department, Montezuma Fire Department, Barnes City Fire Department, the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Deputies and Dispatchers, Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, and all of the various storm spotters that assisted with this incident.