News
Four Boy Scouts Killed, Tornado Destroys Scout Ranch in Iowa
At least four people were killed after a massive tornado hit a Boy Scout Camp in Iowa on Wednesday night.
The tornado at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Little Sioux, IA killed Scouts Josh Fennen, 13, Sam Thomsen, 13 and Ben Petrzilka, 14, all of Omaha, Nebraska; and Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove, Iowa. Eilerts was a Scout and a camp staff member.
Forty-eight Scouts and staff members were injured.
Rob Logsdon, a 15-year-old staff member at the camp, told CNN that he and fellow campers were watching the lightning, but soon thereafter, the tornado touched down and the siren went off for them to go to their shelters.
"All of a sudden, two seconds later, the tornado was on top of us," Logsdon said on CNN's "American Morning". "I know it picked up our adult leader's car and threw it 50 yards, easy."
"Eight seconds, and the tornado passed. That was like the longest eight seconds I've ever had," Logsdon told CNN affiliate KETV in Omaha.
The closest siren to the ranch was located in Blencoe, which is about 15 miles away. Blencoe is a very small town in northwest Iowa's Monona County. It has a population of 231, according to the 2000 census.
According to reports, 93 campers and 25 staff were at the camp when the tornado struck about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. All have been accounted for, but the 1,800-acre park was still being searched Thursday morning.
"All of the buildings are gone; most of the tents are gone; most of the trees are destroyed," said Lloyd Roitstein, president of the Mid-America Council of Boy Scouts of America. "You've got 1,800 acres of property that are destroyed right now."
After the tornado struck, surviving Boy Scouts were taken to West Harrison High School in nearby Mondamin, Iowa to wait for their parents to pick them up.
The Scouts at the Little Sioux ranch were advanced Scouts between 13 and 18 years old and were there for a week of training.
The Little Sioux Scout Ranch is about 45 miles north of Omaha and 45 miles south of Sioux City, Iowa.
For more Weather News, please go to http://news.yourfindit.com/NewsList.aspx?cat=20&wcat=11
Join the brand-new social networking community, YourFindit, and create your profile
More News
Fuel Shortages Contribute To Frustration After Hurricane Sandy
Fuel shortages have become the latest problem for the northeast in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. As power companies warned that electricity in some of the hard hit areas like New York City and coastal New Jersey could remain out until November 11, ...
Released On: 11/3/2012
Views: 12185
Hurricane Sandy Death Toll Rises
As large parts of northeast coastal areas continue to sit underwater, authorities have raised the official death toll from Hurricane Sandy to 76. Numerous people are thought to still be unaccounted for, but the exact number is unknown.
Released On: 11/2/2012
Views: 7179
Hurricane Sandy Causes 29 Deaths, Massive Flooding And Damage
Hurricane Sandy slammed into the northeast Monday evening, leaving flooding a trail of severe damage in its wake. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland across Pennsylvania on Tuesday and then western New York on Wednesday. Forecaster ...
Released On: 10/31/2012
Views: 6498
Hurricane Sandy Expected To Make Landfall In New Jersey
Hurricane Sandy is expected to continue gaining strength as it steadily moves towards the northeast coast at 28 mph. As of Monday morning, the category 1 hurricane was moving northwest packing 90 mph winds. The National Hurricane Center said the ...
Released On: 10/30/2012
Views: 4802
Hurricane Isaac Causes Flooding And Power Outages In Louisiana
Hurricane Isaac lashed southeast Louisiana with heavy rain and strong winds Wednesday morning, causing severe flooding in Plaquemines Parish and other low-lying areas along the Mississippi River. Parish officials say storm surge caused at least o ...
Released On: 8/29/2012
Views: 8638
Tropical Storm Isaac Upgraded To Category 1 Hurricane
Tropical Storm Isaac was upgraded to a category 1 hurricane today as it steadily continued moving towards the northern gulf coast. The National Hurricane Center said Isaac is now traveling at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Isaac w ...
Released On: 8/29/2012
Views: 6823
Tropical Storm Isaac Expected To Make Landfall As A Hurricane
The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Isaac could strengthen into a hurricane as moves through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The center predicts Isaac will be a category 1 hurricane by the time it reaches land.
Released On: 8/28/2012
Views: 7040
Mexico Urged To Complete Preparations For Hurricane Bud
As Hurricane Bud continued moving towards the southwest coast of Mexico on Friday, the National Hurricane Center warned coastal residents that “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”
Released On: 5/26/2012
Views: 7176
Warning Issued For Mexico As Hurricane Bud Moves Towards Coastline
Parts of southwest Mexico were put under a tropical storm warning Thursday as Hurricane Bud upgraded to a category 2 storm and continued moving towards the coastline. In an afternoon advisory, the National Hurricane Center predicted the center of ...
Released On: 5/25/2012
Views: 5893
Injuries, Widespread Damage Reported After Dallas and Fort Worth Area Tornadoes
As many as a dozen tornadoes ripped through northern Texas Tuesday, leaving widespread damage in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The National Weather Service does not know the exact number of tornadoes that touched down, but surveyors will assess aff ...
Released On: 4/4/2012
Views: 8397
Damages Reported In Northern Alabama After 2 Tornadoes Touch Down
Authorities in northern Alabama reported several towns in Madison County and Limestone County sustained major damage after two tornadoes touched down Friday morning.
Released On: 3/3/2012
Views: 8767
9 Dead As Storm System Rips Through Midwest
A powerful storm system churned across the Midwest early Wednesday spawning an estimated 16 tornados and leaving at least 9 people dead in Kansas and Missouri. The storm continued moving east and forecasters warned severe weather and tornadoes co ...
Released On: 3/1/2012
Views: 6964
“Epic” Storm Batters West Coast of Alaska
Residents of Nome, Alaska and other isolated villages along the west coast were prepared Wednesday morning for what forecasters have described as an “epic” storm surge churning in the Bering Sea. Many residents along the coast had already made th ...
Released On: 11/10/2011
Views: 10472
Hurricane Rina Weakens to Tropical Storm As It Moves Towards Mexico
Hurricane Rina weakened to a tropical storm Thursday as it steadily moved towards the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The National Hurricane Center reports Rina will likely brush the coast with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph Thursd ...
Released On: 10/28/2011
Views: 6860
Yucatan Peninsula Braces For Hurricane Rina
As Hurricane Rina churned in the Carribean Sea Monday, weather officials warned of a possible direct hit on Cancun later this week. The National Hurricane Center said Rina appears to be gradually gaining strength and could become a major Category ...
Released On: 10/26/2011
Views: 7491
Hurricane Jova Hits Mexico, Causes Flooding and Power Outages
The National Hurricane Center downgraded Hurricane Jova to a tropical storm early Wednesday as the system moved over western Mexico. Jova hit the coast as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing heavy rain and 100 mph winds.
Released On: 10/13/2011
Views: 7242
Hurricane Jova To Hit Mexico Tuesday
Hurricane Jova steadily closed in on the west coast of Mexico Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue hurricane warnings, open shelters and close ports. The National Hurricane Center said Jova is currently a Category 3 storm with maximum sustaine ...
Released On: 10/11/2011
Views: 8129
Hurricane Irene Heads Towards Dominican Republic, Haiti
Hurricane Irene left downed trees and flooding in its wake Monday morning as it moved away from Puerto Rico and continued on a northwest path towards the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Puerto Rican authorities have not reported any death or major ...
Released On: 8/23/2011
Views: 8105
