Estherville, IA (KICD)—We are continuing to learn more about what was happening with the severe storms that moved through the area Tuesday afternoon and evening including a brief tornado touchdown in Emmet County.
We first got photos of a very distinct funnel cloud from west of Estherville on Tuesday evening with Emergency Management officials from Emmet and Dickinson Counties deploying a drone over the area concerned residents say they spotted the touchdown and found scaring in the rural area left behind by the whirling winds.
The tornado is believed to have been on or very near the ground for a little over a mile and half with trained spotters and residents sounding the alarm despite there being no official warning issued since the rotation was not clear on radar because of the paths distance from the sites in both Sioux Falls and Des Moines.
We have also received photos of wind damage to crops near Graettinger that show corn plants laying almost completely flat as well as a cattle barn near Emmetsburg having some wind damage. We are told no animals were injured in that event.
Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Emmet and O’Brien Counties following the storms which activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant and the Disaster Case Management Programs for those affected.
Damaged field near Graettinger- Courtesy Amy Harris
Damaged barn near Emmetsburg- Courtesy Anne Nelson
