Iowa tornadoes bring trail of destruction that hits historic courthouse, theatre and factory

A historic courthouse, theatre and a large factory fell in the path of a storm system’s damage as it generated several tornadoes across central Iowa on Thursday.

Several funnel clouds developed Thursday from the thunderstorm as it moved north of Des Moines near Bondurant.

Additional funnels were reported as the storm moved east of Des Moines past Altoona, Prairie City and Colfax.

Warnings were issued as the storms moved east.

Several buildings were reported damaged by a tornado in the main business district in Marshalltown, including the historic courthouse.

Initial reports to the National Weather Service indicated the historic Marshall County Courthouse’s tower was damaged in a Thursday afternoon tornado, and a weather service spotter reported vehicles overturned and numerous trees down.

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A woman working at Hammer Medical Supply in the city’s downtown said her building has minor damage.

She said other nearby buildings including The Orpheum, a theatre built in 1948, also are damaged. Another nearby brick building is missing one side, leaving the interior living quarters visible to the outside.

Marshalltown is a city of 27,000 about 50 miles (80 kilometres) northeast of Des Moines.

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Meanwhile, a large factory in the central Iowa city of Pella sustained damage from a tornado strike.

Vermeer Manufacturing spokeswoman Liz Sporrer confirmed by email the company was hit. She said they were assessing the damage.

Seven people were inside the plant when the tornado struck. They were treated for injuries in hospital and released.

Pella Regional Health Center spokeswoman Billie Rhamy confirmed Thursday evening injuries were minor and all patients had been discharged.

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The factory, which has about 2,800 employees manufacturing industrial and agricultural equipment, was hit by a tornado around 4 p.m.

Vice-President of Operations Vince Newendorp says the east half of the company’s campus, which includes seven manufacturing buildings, sustained extensive damage.

He said the plant activated its storm warning system and workers were in shelters when the storm hit.

The company makes agricultural machinery including hay balers and mowers and equipment for the pipeline and forestry management industries.

One of the factory’s several manufacturing buildings sustained extensive damage with metal strewn across the parking lot and across the street into a cornfield.

Vehicles were overturned and piled onto others.