News : Public Asked to Avoid Storm Damaged Areas

STORM RESULTS IN SERIOUS WIND DAMAGE AND MINOR INJURIES

At approximately 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 17, 2016, the City of Vinton was struck by high winds in a localized area on the south east side of town. Several multi-family apartment buildings and one business sustained serious structural damage and several residents were transported by ambulances to Virginia Gay Hospital with minor injuries.

The Red Cross is on scene and is providing assistance to those affected by this event.

There are still a number of residents without power at this time and it is unknown at the time of this release how long power will remain off in that part of town. Utility crews are deployed and are working to restore services.

The public is asked to please avoid the area for their own safety and to allow utility crews to work. The public is also asked to stay out of areas blocked by barricades and/or yellow caution tape to avoid injury from downed power lines and debris.

The Vinton Police Department, Vinton Fire Department, and North Benton Ambulance were assisted by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Emergency Management Agency, Garrison First Responders, Garrison Fire Department, Center Point Ambulance, Blairstown Ambulance, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement.

At the time of this event, the City of Vinton was under a severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service that had been issued at 4:40 a.m. This warning included a stated a hazard of 60 mph wind gusts which did not meet the criteria to activate the storm sirens. The National Weather Service is sending a survey team to Vinton tomorrow to assess damage. Residents are reminded that events such as this are always possible with any severe thunderstorm and can occur with little or no warning.