Officials still assessing tornado damages in Jasper County

Officials are still assessing the damages of a March 5 storm, which resulted in at least one visually confirmed tornado in Jasper County. Emergency management said the first reports of damage came from south of Colfax, and the storm tracked to the northeast corner of the county near Rock Creek State Park.

Shortly after the storm, emergency management stated in a release that there were no reports of injuries but there were roads blocked with debris, including trees and downed power lines. Law enforcement is asking residents to avoid these areas. Utility crews are working to restore power to affected communities.

If residents have damages to their home or building, Jasper County Emergency Management asks to report your name and address and submit photos to tornado@jasperia.org. Reports of trees that have not fallen into or against a building are not reportable, officials said.

National Weather Service said severe thunderstorms were tracked across all of eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and far northeast Missouri during the late afternoon and evening of March 5. Thunderstorms initially developed in southwest Iowa and moved across Central Iowa.

Storms produced large hail and tornadoes over Central Iowa, eventually becoming more severe and evolving into more damaging winds. National Weather Service said trained spotters and first responders reported wind gusts around 60-70 mph.

Other communities across Iowa were affected by the storm, including but limited to Chariton, Norwalk and Winterset. Associated Press, Des Moines Register and The New York Times, among other news outlets, reported at least seven people were killed in Iowa as a result of the storms.

Jasper County businesses were also damaged by the storm. The former TPI Composites plant experienced damages near the large overhead door on the west end of the building, sources tell Newton News. Approximately a 120-by-50 foot section of the roof is also gone. No one was in the building at the time.

Valle Drive-In, 4074 Highway F48 W., sustained damages to its fencing, signage and movie screen. The drive-in movie theater stated on Facebook it appreciates those who have contacted them and expressed a willingness to help; operators want to reach out to their insurance company before accepting assistance.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com