News : Storm damages large area of SE Vinton; no injuries reported

Many Imperial Apartments residents are homeless after the storm; no major injuries were reported.

Three things you need to know first about the storm damage that occurred in Vinton this morning:

1. Everyone is OK. Several residents of the Imperial Apartments were taken by ambulance to Virginia Gay Hospital for observation or treatment of minor injuries, but no serious injuries were reported.

Most of the roof is gone on some of the apartment buildings, several other houses in the area sustained damage, and the VS High School baseball field fence and some of the light poles were destroyed, as was much of the Marvin Lindsey baseball/softball complex.

2. The Fair will continue partly as scheduled today, with the Parade of Champions canceled, but the livestock and ribbon auctions and other events happening as planned. The fairgrounds sustained minor damage and loss of electricity, but generators are available to power lights and loudspeakers.

3. Clean-up has begun already, and neighbors and friends are gathering to help those affected most severely -- just as they have done with previous natural disasters, such as the wind storm that devastated a much wider area in July of 2011.

VS Activities Director Jim Struve said he is working with the Iowa High School Athletic Association on rescheduling the District Championship baseball game between VS and Marion, which was scheduled for Monday night on the now-damaged field. It will be later today before he finds out the new location.

The Benton County Emergency Management office said its too soon to tell for sure if the storm was a straight-line wind or a small tornado.

The Sam's Amusement carnival crew which was in Vinton for the Fair was also here in 2011. Their equipment survived the storm, although a few vehicles were damaged, including a semi cab that had a board blown into its front passenger window.

See our first storm photo album HERE.