Derecho Destruction

SIGOURNEY – Calm and serenity was interrupted Monday afternoon by a fast moving storm system that left wind damage and power outages in its’ wake in Keokuk County. In the morning hours of August 10, a Derecho formed in western Iowa, and began to sweep across the state, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds in excess of 70 to 80 mph. According to the National Weather Service, a Derecho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm.

The Derecho that affected Keokuk County arrived shortly after noon on Monday, with much of Sigourney and Keokuk County being without power by 12:15 p.m. According to Keokuk County Emergency Management Director Larry Smith, no injuries had been reported due to the windstorm in the immediate moments after the storm.

“There’s been no EMS calls,” Smith reported to the News-Review around 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

Smith described the storm as a quick event.

“A quick down burst of wind went through is what we currently have,” Smith said. “I think it’s got up around the 70 mph plus,” he added.

Smith also reported in the immediate aftermath that damage appeared to be confined to mostly tree damage and some minor roof damage, based on what he had seen during a quick damage assessment of Sigourney.

“I think there’s probably going to be some small roof damage, tree limbs down,” Smith said of the damage.

At 3:15 p.m. on Monday, Alliant Energy was reporting over 4,600 customers in Keokuk County were without power. By 9:00 p.m., power had been restored to much of Sigourney. At press time, there was still reported to be 358 residents in Keokuk County without power, according to Alliant Energy.

According to the National Weather Service, periodic chance for storms return throughout the end of the week. There is a potential for additional severe storms, but the extent of the threat remained uncertain, according to the National Weather Service.

Photos from News-Review Publisher Charlie Comfort and Sports Editor Jared Larson can be found here: