Storm damage heavy in Aurora, Kearney

Several businesses sustained severe damage and at least one house was heavily damaged Thursday night when a tornado struck the southern outskirts of Aurora.

The tornado was among several reported in Nebraska as a storm system carrying rain, hail and strong winds moved through the state. Tornadoes were also reported in Kearney, where 90 rail cars were derailed between Kearney and Odessa.

There was no immediate report of injuries.

Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency Thursday night, allowing access to state and federal resources for storm cleanup. He readied the Nebraska National Guard in case its help was needed.

"We won't know the full extent of the damage until tomorrow. However, it appears that Kearney was hardest hit and that is where our assistance will be focused overnight," Heineman said late Thursday.

Initial reports from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency indicated several dozen homes were damaged in both Aurora and Kearney. Heineman planned to travel to those areas Friday.

State officials closed down Interstate 80 from Giltner to York just before 8 p.m. because of downed power lines and several semis that had been blown off of the roadway. The traffic was diverted onto Highway 34, contributing to traffic backups on Highway 14 in Aurora.

According to scanner traffic, a number of accidents were reported on highways around Aurora.

An awning covering fuel pumps at Love's Travel Stop at the Aurora/Interstate 80 interchange was heavily damaged and there was a power line on top of a semi truck south of the business on Highway 14.

Also on Highway 14, a storage unit housing classic cars was damaged and a feedlot on the west side of the highway had twisted grain bins and bent pivots. A home on the east side of the highway was also destroyed.

The Shell service station on the north side of the interstate exit lost its roof as well.

A call to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department to inquire about further damage was directed to the mayor's office, where no one answered the phone Thursday night.

There were reports of downed trees and power lines throughout Kearney, as well as reports of damage on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus and the Expo Center at the fairgrounds was destroyed.

The Stratford Apartments on 39th Street in northwest Kearney sustained heavy damage. At least one of the buildings lost its roof and several cars in the parking lot were damaged.

The Buffalo County emergency manager asked all Kearney residents to remain at home Thursday evening. Travel was discouraged because of storm damage in parts of the city.

Nebraska Public Power District spokesman Mark Becker said 12,000 customers were without power in Kearney Thursday evening.

Numerous power lines were down in the northwest, northeast and southeast parts of Kearney, and would remain so until a second wave of storms passed. Crews were on standby, "waiting for little safer conditions," Becker said.

Power was also out in parts of Hamilton County, according to LeAnne Doose, communications director for SPPD.

Two miles of transmission lines near Hampton were down and about 1,000 people throughout Hamilton County were without power. Crews were working Thursday night to reroute lines, but some homes would most likely remain without power overnight, she said. In part of the county, a transmission wire owned by NPPD had fallen on top of wires owned by SPPD, she said.

"We're doing what we can," Doose said.

According to NOAA's National Weather Service radio transmissions, people in Hamilton County were also encouraged to stay home Thursday night to avoid downed power lines.

In the Grand Island area, people sought cover as the sirens sounded just after 6 p.m. Scanner traffic indicated numerous reports of rotation in the clouds and small hail near Wood River, Doniphan, and the outskirts of Grand Island.

Spotters reported possible tornadoes near the power plant on South Locust, Stolley Park Road and 110th, near H&H Distributing on Highway 281, and Highway 11 and Husker Highway. No confirmations of tornadoes was available Thursday night. A tornado warning was in effect from about 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in Hall County.

A barn, grain silo and outbuilding at 3467 Highway 11, which is at the corner of Highway 11 and Husker Highway, were damaged by Thursday night's storm. East of the home, irrigation pipe and pieces of the silo were spread into a field, which was also filled with water.

In the city, strong winds blew two trampolines out of the yards along West State Street.

Angi Wiegert returned to her home at 3007 W. State St. after the storm to find a trampoline on her roof. It belonged to the family four doors down. Another neighbor had a trampoline blown into their yard, she said.

"It was quite funny," she said of the sight that attracted passersby with cameras.

Heavy rain was reported throughout Grand Island, leaving several streets throughout the city flooded. Flash flood warnings were in effect for Hall County Thursday night and both the Platte River and the Wood River were nearing their banks.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.