Red Cross opens shelter in Coralville
The Red Cross has announced a shelter is open for residents displaced by Friday's storm.
Our team has been in contact with local officials in the areas impacted by today's tornadoes and storms to assess the needs of the communities. Working with partners, we are opening a shelter at the Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street, Coralville, IA) 9 p.m. pic.twitter.com/MXgqAR4aRk
— Iowa Red Cross (@IowaRedCross) April 1, 2023
#iagov Reynolds announces assistance for countries impacted by today’s storms: https://t.co/wLmMnKw1Or
— Erin Murphy (@ErinDMurphy) April 1, 2023
The roof flies off of El Sol restaurant live on KCRG.
— Ryan Poe (@TheePoe) March 31, 2023
Severe weather update: University officials are still assessing campus but so far, there are no reports of injuries and limited reports of damage.
— University of Iowa Police Department (@UIowa_Police) April 1, 2023
The strong storm system that moved through the Iowa City area the evening of 3/31 thankfully left the City largely unscathed. Thankfully, we are not aware of any injuries or extensive damage. The City is providing resources to support regional emergency management efforts.
— Iowa City Public Safety (@ICPublicSafety) March 31, 2023
📌 Keota, Iowa.
— Hunter (@hunter_wx) March 31, 2023
Damage here is catastrophic. Notice ground scouring. Every house I've been to so far has been leveled with debris scattered for miles. Luckily, all of the houses @ktxmattwx and I have stopped at had no injuries reported. Prayers to all impacted. #wxtwitter #iawx… pic.twitter.com/zcL725PhpX
Farm is ok but surveying damage.
— Jon Green (@modestholdings) March 31, 2023
The Wapello County tornado seen from 4 miles south of Hedrick.
— Riley Fannon (@RileyFannonKTVO) March 31, 2023
🎞: Lauren Sylvester#iawx pic.twitter.com/4dqMBDeZa5
Help for homeowners in Hills
Today was an emotional roller coaster. Still processing. But this. This here - there is nothing like this feeling. Incredibly grateful I’m able to chase like I do. Taken near Ottumwa, IA #iawx #tornado #tornadoes pic.twitter.com/xU8gXav6Vz
— Tanner Charles 🌪 (@TannerCharlesMN) March 31, 2023
CHECK THIS OUT! Debris was taken all the way from Hedrick to Swisher in Iowa after a tornado came through. That's roughly 80 miles away! #iawx pic.twitter.com/iyiRAwsph4
— Rebecca Kopelman (@KopelmanWX) April 1, 2023
NEW VIDEO of tornado damage coming in from Keota, IA. You can see multiple 18-wheelers and cars flipped over and thrown into trees, also damage to homes. #IAwx pic.twitter.com/PPfjDW1tCi
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 1, 2023
Here’s a video clip from the large tornado northeast of Keota, Iowa, earlier this afternoon. The farm house was untouched, but I heard later a nearby barn was damaged. #iawx #midwesttornadoes pic.twitter.com/dgNsZovpuu
— Bryon Houlgrave (@bryonhoulgrave) March 31, 2023
Residents along the Coralville strip witnessed #tornado touchdown in parking lot. “God did his work.” pic.twitter.com/0C9dWYrU8U
— Vanessa Miller (@VanessaMiller12) April 1, 2023
Images from Hills show damage to homes
Just hours after a powerful storm tore walls off buildings in Hills, family members, friends, neighbors and strangers were working on cleanup Friday evening.
Friends, neighbors and strangers show up to help with cleanup in Hills, Iowa, following a strong storm that passed through March 31, 2023. (Erin Jordan/The Gazette)
'Multiple reports of structural damage'
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to avoid the towns of Hills, Solon and Coralville to allow for emergency responders to access the area, where there have been "multiple reports of structural damage".
Johnson county Sheriff’s Office STORM UPDATE
— Johnson County, Iowa (@JohnsonCountyIA) March 31, 2023
🚨We are asking the public to AVOID Hills, Solon, and Coralville to allow emergency responders to clear storm debris.🚨
We have taken multiple reports of structural damage in the Hills, Solon, and the SW part of Johnson County.
More damage from the tornado that hit Coralville, IA earlier today. Big tornado day in Iowa. @NWSQuadCities iawx pic.twitter.com/TiSMIXY02M
— Wolf Weather (@WolfWeatherWx) March 31, 2023
Coralville asks residents to stay out of storm-damaged areas of town
The city of Coralville in a news release said emergency responders are dealing with storm damage. Coralville Mayor Meghann Foster asked residents to stay away from damaged areas to allow emergency response workers to complete their work.
Coralville Transit has resumed bus service effective immediately.
Iowa City 'largely unscathed' by storm
In a tweet posted Friday, Iowa City Public Safety said the city had been "largely unscathed" by the storms that passed through the area. There were no reports of injuries or extensive damage as of 6:34 p.m.
The strong storm system that moved through the Iowa City area the evening of 3/31 thankfully left the City largely unscathed. Thankfully, we are not aware of any injuries or extensive damage. The City is providing resources to support regional emergency management efforts.
— Iowa City Public Safety (@ICPublicSafety) March 31, 2023
Damage in Coralville off 23rd Ave near Hy-Vee pic.twitter.com/Epp29j5OAT
— Todd Versteegh (@TLVersteegh) March 31, 2023
Highway 6 closed east of Iowa City
Iowa City Public Safety tweeted that Highway 6, approximately one mile east of Iowa City, is closed because of downed power lines.
Johnson County Emergency Management officials are not releasing any information at this time.
But Johnson County shared a tweet from emergency management at 6:18 p.m. about the weather damage: “Several tornadoes touched down in Johnson County. Public Safety is responding to areas as needed and assessments of the damage are underway. Assume downed power lines are live.”
Damage in Hills, IA, just south of Iowa City @NWSQuadCities pic.twitter.com/WHSjln3SpR
— Todd Versteegh (@TLVersteegh) March 31, 2023
More than 30,000 Iowans without power
Alliant Energy reported 5,369 customers without power in Linn County, 454 in Johnson County, 1,361 in Cedar County and 138 in Benton County as of 6:18 p.m. Friday. Outages were mainly concentrated in western Cedar Rapids and Mount Vernon along with some in northeast Cedar Rapids and Marion. A total of 26,416 customers were reported without power statewide.
As of 6:28 p.m., MidAmerican Energy reported 7,573 customers were without power, including 2,432 in the Iowa City metro.
Video of tornado damage in Coralville, Iowa pic.twitter.com/xkf3wD18eC
— David Goodner (@davidgoodner) March 31, 2023
My uncle lost his barn in Solon pic.twitter.com/LM6qMyKz0q
— kaylee (@kayleestarkey_) March 31, 2023