Tornado damages apartment building, farms in eastern Iowa

OELWEIN, Iowa (AP) – Severe storms damaged an apartment building and several farm buildings and homes in northeast Iowa Saturday night.

A tornado that was spotted in Oelwein tore off part of the wall of a 12-unit apartment building and damaged the siding of a second building in the complex. Oelwein police said no serious injuries were reported.

Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher said the storm knocked down branches and some power lines elsewhere in Oelwein and in rural parts of the county.

Residents of the apartment complex whose homes were damaged sought shelter in a nearby hotel. Emergency crews wore surgical masks as they responded to the storm damage because of the virus.

Dubuque County Emergency Management Director Tom Berger said at least six farms were damaged by a tornado near Sherrill.