(Tabor-Randolph) — Fremont County Emergency Management officials confirm nearly 40 properties were impacted by a pair of tornadoes late last week.
On the evening of Thursday, April 17th, two tornadoes swept through the northern part of Fremont County, including an EF-0 that passed roughly three miles south of Tabor–tracking a path of just over five miles. In a release earlier this week, Fremont County Emergency Management Agency officials said 16 properties were in its path, resulting in 10 affected properties, five with minor damage, and one with major damage. A second twister, classified as an EF-1, touched down a mile south of Randolph and traveled over 19 miles east through Fremont into Page County, clipping the northwest corner of Essex before lifting near Nyman. Fremont County EMA Director Clayton Long described the damage in a previous interview with KMA News.
“There was quite a bit of damage with that–with wind and hail,” he said. “Some structures missing siding, and a partial roof ripped off. Then, there was quite a bit of hail that fell north of the storm, the tornado I should say. Tabor got clipped with some hail, and Randolph and Imogene got hit with some pretty good sized hail, about 2-to-3 inches.”
County emergency management officials say the EF-1 tornado dealt minor damage to four properties and major damage to nine, with six others destroyed. In the release, Long says they extend their appreciation to the volunteer fire departments, sheriff’s deputies, and other first responders who played a critical role during and after the storms. He adds their efforts were supported by dispatchers maintaining “clear and efficient communication under high-pressure conditions.”
Emergency Management Agency coordinators from Audubon, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties joined local officials early Friday morning to begin preliminary damage assessments. Additionally, the American Red Cross was on-site in the Randolph and Imogene areas Friday and Saturday, distributing tarps, cleanup kits, and meals to affected residents.
State aid is also available to impacted Fremont and Page County residents through the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program. The program provides up to $7,000 in state-funded grants to eligible households for home repair, personal property replacement, temporary housing, auto, food assistance, and other needs. To learn more or apply, visit homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance.
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