Storms flood roads, down trees

Sioux City Fire Rescue firefighters prepare to push a stranded car out of floodwaters on Dace Ave. near the intersection with Gordon Drive in Sioux City, Sunday evening June 26, 2011. A severe storm that dumped large amounts of rain over Sioux City in less than an hour flooded many roads and intersections, stranding numerous motorists. Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds

SIOUX CITY -- Powerful storms packing winds of up to 80 mph moved through Siouxland Sunday night downing trees and power lines and flooding streets.

Phillip Schumacher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, said the storms formed in north central Nebraska, organized into a line and became a bow echo -- an arched line of thunderstorms that produces very damaging winds.

The storms moved through Sioux City about 7 p.m. dropping nearly 3 inches of rain on the city in one hour. Wind gusts of 63 mph were recorded at Sioux Gateway Airport.

"There were several periods of high winds that came with it," Schumacher said. "One was a main line, and behind the storms there were some winds that actually gusted over 60 mph as well."

Dakota County Emergency Management Director Pat Foust reported that a number of limbs, some trees, power lines and road signs were downed by strong winds.

A section of city-installed levee near Riverfront Apartments in South Sioux City blew down during the storm, but Foust said water was not coming through the opened section.

He said the Dakota County Law Enforcement Center received numerous calls from people who lost power and thus lost pumps. Several other area residents reported water coming into their basements.

The greatest storm damage was reported in Emerson, Neb., and Sloan, Iowa.

Schumacher said trees and large tree branches were down in Emerson. Homes also reportedly sustained damage, but Schumacher said the National Weather Service has not been able to confirm that.

In Sloan, weather spotters said shingles were blown off the roofs of six homes. A grain elevator owned by the Western Iowa Cooperative was also heavily damaged on the outskirts of town.

Woodbury County Assistant Chief Deputy Doug Boetger said Highway 75 is closed at Second and Fifth Streets so a crane can be brought in to repair the elevator.

Laurie Kubly, a utility billing clerk for the City of Sloan, said lots of tree branches were down in town. She said a co-worker reported that her power went off for a few minutes Sunday night.

Fresh Produce Discussion Blog: FV Advisory Committee named

Originally chartered in 2001, the advisory committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry. In May 2007, USDA approved a new two-year charter for this committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 provides for the establishment and operation of advisory committees within the executive branch of the federal government.

Ward's business directory of U.S. private and public companies

The National JobBank 2005

Where we live, a guide to St. Louis communities

Regional industrial buying guide, Greater Michigan

Lift every voice and sing, St. Louis African-Americans in the twentieth century : narratives