OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Powerful thunderstorms that produced several tornadoes as they moved across Nebraska on Sunday caused damage in several towns and rural areas in the east of the state.
The storms that developed in southern Nebraska near Hastings on Sunday damaged homes and businesses in or near Sutton, Garland, Cordova and Daykin. The storms also left more than 18,000 utility customers without electricity.
The storms maintained their strength and continued to generate tornadoes for more than three hours as they moved across Nebraska.
They knocked down several farm outbuildings west of Sutton and blew debris across U.S. Highway 6, forcing officials to close the highway. The town’s business district was also damaged.
Hastings College track coach Ryan Mahoney said he saw the tornado that damaged buildings in Sutton as he was driving west on Interstate 80.
“Just about every tree in downtown is either knocked down or significantly damaged,” Mahoney said to the Lincoln Journal Star. “The streets were cluttered with debris. It looked like there was only one major building damaged.”
As the storm moved northeastward, the strongest part of it missed Lincoln but caused damage in and around smaller towns between Hastings and Lincoln.
Gov. Dave Heineman and state Emergency Management Agency officials planned to survey the storm damage in Sutton, Cordova and several other areas on Monday.
Cordova resident Alisa Enerspacher said she was in Lexington with family when the storm swept through her hometown, and that family members told her to expect to find significant damage when she returns.
“There are buildings that are just gone. Pivots are overturned. Trees are gone or significantly damaged. Our house is OK, except for the west-side windows - those are blown out,” Enerspacher said.
The Omaha area didn’t get hit by any tornadoes, but the storms buffeted the area with winds of over 70 mph and heavy rain. The wind knocked down tree limbs and power lines throughout the area.
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