Residents of the northeast Nebraska town of Pilger were set to begin a massive cleanup operation Tuesday after a deadly tornado swept through the area, killing a 5-year-old and injuring 19 others, 16 critically, while demolishing more than half the town's structures.
The National Weather Service said two twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other. Emergency crews and residents spent the evening sorting through demolished homes and businesses in the town of about 350, roughly 100 miles northwest of Omaha.
"It was like God dragged two fingernails across the land," Gregg Moeller, who works with the Wisner-Pilger school system told The Omaha World-Herald.
The child's death was confirmed by the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office late Monday.
Authorities said the first tornado touched down around 3:45 p.m. and downed several power lines before it leveled a farmhouse. Then a second tornado was spotted southwest of Pilger. Shortly afterward, the town suffered a "direct hit" that leveled several buildings, including the Fire Department building.
"Houses are plumb gone," Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt told the Associated Press. "The co-op is gone, the grain bins are gone, and it looks like almost every house in town has some damage. It's a complete mess."
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard was preparing to deploy to assist local emergency responders and help with the cleanup.
Pilger was evacuated for the night, and the Nebraska State Patrol closed all roads into town. The sheriff's office said residents would gather at a staging area around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, where law enforcement would then escort them back into town.
Providence Medical Center in nearby Wayne treated three tornado patients, including two who had lacerations, hospital spokeswoman Sandy Bartling told the Associated Press. Two were released Monday evening, and the third patient was in stable condition, she said.Stanton County emergency manager Sandy Goshorn told Fox News that the damage to the town of Pilger is "extensive."
He said in some areas everything is gone, even the trees. Goshorn also said officials are dealing with two hazardous material situations involving storage facilities for fuel, grains and corn. He said corn from the facilities is covering the town.
Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger estimated that 50 to 75 percent of Pilger was heavily damaged or destroyed in the storm. The local school is likely beyond repair, he said. Unger said five people had to be rescued from a rural home day care northwest of Stanton. That home was hit just before the storm moved into Pilger.
Weatherholt said that the southern half of the town was completely leveled
The National Weather Service said two twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other. Emergency crews and residents spent the evening sorting through demolished homes and businesses in the town of about 350, roughly 100 miles northwest of Omaha.
"It was like God dragged two fingernails across the land," Gregg Moeller, who works with the Wisner-Pilger school system told The Omaha World-Herald.
The child's death was confirmed by the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office late Monday.
Authorities said the first tornado touched down around 3:45 p.m. and downed several power lines before it leveled a farmhouse. Then a second tornado was spotted southwest of Pilger. Shortly afterward, the town suffered a "direct hit" that leveled several buildings, including the Fire Department building.
"Houses are plumb gone," Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt told the Associated Press. "The co-op is gone, the grain bins are gone, and it looks like almost every house in town has some damage. It's a complete mess."
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard was preparing to deploy to assist local emergency responders and help with the cleanup.
Pilger was evacuated for the night, and the Nebraska State Patrol closed all roads into town. The sheriff's office said residents would gather at a staging area around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, where law enforcement would then escort them back into town.
Providence Medical Center in nearby Wayne treated three tornado patients, including two who had lacerations, hospital spokeswoman Sandy Bartling told the Associated Press. Two were released Monday evening, and the third patient was in stable condition, she said.Stanton County emergency manager Sandy Goshorn told Fox News that the damage to the town of Pilger is "extensive."
He said in some areas everything is gone, even the trees. Goshorn also said officials are dealing with two hazardous material situations involving storage facilities for fuel, grains and corn. He said corn from the facilities is covering the town.
Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger estimated that 50 to 75 percent of Pilger was heavily damaged or destroyed in the storm. The local school is likely beyond repair, he said. Unger said five people had to be rescued from a rural home day care northwest of Stanton. That home was hit just before the storm moved into Pilger.
Weatherholt said that the southern half of the town was completely leveled
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