Article About The Deshler, NE Tornado and the one death

[weatherwunder]

DESHLER, Nebraska (AP) -- Up to a foot of rain and at least seven tornadoes pounded southern Nebraska and northern Kansas, killing a man and destroying at least four homes.

Residents of one town reported hail that looked "like someone dropping volleyballs," and some residents were stranded by flooding.

Four tornadoes struck in and around Deshler starting at 6:40 p.m. Sunday, said Todd Holsten of the National Weather Service.

A man died after being buried in debris when a garage workshop was flattened and six other people were injured in Deshler, about 75 miles southwest of Lincoln near the Kansas line, Mayor Alan Holle said. It was Nebraska's first tornado death since 1988.

"There's a lot of damage from trees just landing on cars and homes. It's unbelievable," said Bob Reinke of Reinke Manufacturing, a maker of irrigation equipment and flatbed trucks. He said the storm destroyed one building at the factory and the town's lumber yard.

About 20 miles south of Deshler in Kansas, a tornado damaged three houses in a rural area north of Courtland, state officials said, but no injuries were reported. Republic County officials said several people were stranded early Monday by standing water.

Holle said at least 100 homes and 25 businesses were severely damaged in Deshler, a town of 900 people. He said four homes on the southern edge of town were leveled to their foundations.

Gov. Mike Johanns authorized the use of a National Guard helicopter to rescue people stranded by flooding in Hubbell, about 15 miles from Deshler right on the Kansas line.

But instead of the helicopter, a rescue team was using a personal watercraft to reach a woman and at least two children stranded on top of a car in a Hubbell street, said Chris Peterson, the governor's spokesman.

Authorities also knew of at least seven people trapped in their homes because of flooding in Hubbell. Because floodwaters were not expected to rise much further, those people most likely would have to wait until the waters receded, Peterson said.

There were preliminary reports of up to 12 inches of rain in Hebron, about 10 miles east of Deshler. Radar indicated 6 to 13 inches of rain throughout Thayer County, said Jared Guyer of the weather service in Hastings. High water closed a highway just south of Hebron.

One resident of Aurora said hail punched a hole in his roof that was large enough for him to crawl through, said Dale Obermeier, a weather service spotter in Aurora, who said the hail also dug holes in his yard.

"When it came down it looked just like someone dropping volleyballs down," Obermeier said.

The weather service planned to investigate the hail reports, Guyer said.

"That would be record-setting hail size," he said. "We plan to check that out before we call the Guinness (Book of Records) folks."

Elsewhere, the roof of a movie theater collapsed Sunday after about an inch of rain fell at Little Falls, Minnesota. Nobody was hurt.

About 20 people were watching "The Hulk" at the Falls Cinema when a section of roof gave way and the movie screen fell toward the audience.

"It was pretty unexpected, the extra special effects," said theater owner Peter Schoell.

[Stormsfury]

I'm very surprised that this was Nebraska's first tornado death in 15 years, considering the Nebraska does lie in Tornado Alley ... I'm sorry to hear about this news and reading from the other thread, glad you escaped the worst of the weather ... especially since the tornadoes were only part of the story ...

Keep us updated about this and thanks for sharing that information ...

[weatherwunder]

It is odd that we have not had a death in 15 years, something to be thankful for.

Indeed tornadoes were only part of the story, the hail was amazing.

In Lincoln, we had hard rains, some hail, and a bunch of thunder and lightning. About 2am the winds got gusty, but no further rain.

It was a long evening, and tonight the hot spots are northeast Nebraska. Some storms are building to the west, and we may get something towards morning.

The forecast is for more of the same tommorro also.

[Colin]

Very unfortunate to hear about the death... at least there has only been 1 in the last 15 years... but it's always sad to hear about something like that... hopefully the areas that were slammed by the severe weather will have a chance to get things back together! :o