‘Just a mess’

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CNA staff reporters With more than an inch of additional rain falling overnight Union County residents are still cleaning up after Wednesday’s severe weather ripped across the county. In Creston, basements across town flooded and are slowly draining. “We’ve got everything from two inches to eight feet,” said Troy Schroeder, owner of Schroeder Plumbing and Electrical in Creston. “Everything is backing up, the pumps can’t keep up with what’s coming up out of the sewers. We pumped one place for three hours and couldn’t keep up.” Schroeder said the clean up will not end once water has receded and basements are dry. “I have a list of furnaces and water heaters to repair,” he said. “They shorted out from the water. It’s just a mess.” More storms More rain fell last night. “We had more storms, but not as bad,” said Union County Emergency Management Coordinator Roger Nurnberg. “There was additional damage to a residence north of Creston. We have some flooding, but nothing like Adams County.” Nurnberg explained the difference between the two rounds of storms. “Last night the storms were moving faster, they were more defined,” he said. “Wednesday, they were fractured, we couldn’t track them.” Nurnberg credits weather radios with keeping residents aware of threatening weather. “We’ve worked them (weather radios) pretty hard,” said Nurnberg. “They worked. No one was hurt.” Hitting home On Maxine and Sharon Huntington farm north of Creston, tordadic activity during Thursday night’s storm certainly left it’s mark. A barn, a pair of outlying buildings and the Huntington’s home at 1277 Cherry Street Road were severely damaged. Debris from the roof of the barn, which was torn off during the storm, lay strewn about the property this morning. Windows on the south side of the Hungington home were cracked or blown out, and at least one outlying building was almost completely flattened. The home remained without power today, as well. “We’re shaken,” said Maxine this morning. Union County Emergency Management Director Roger Nurnburg said an eyewitness account confirmed the activity that devastated the Huntington’s property was a tornado. “A semi, ammonia hauler, from Green Valley Chemical got to see it,” Nurnburg said in a Creston News Advertiser interview today. “He said it was not completely on the ground, and you can tell that from the trees. It was an immediate sharp wind from the east to the west, and back to the east. You’ve got the sheer (wind) element there, to.” City clean up Nurnberg said clean up is beginning around the area. “We have a lot of flooded basements and storm damage” he said. “I’m compiling a list of volunteers and resources.” Nurnberg asks anyone with resources or could volunteer to help, especially the elderly, who have flood damage to call 641-782-1622. “If someone has a pump they would be willing to let someone use, that would really be appreciated,” he said. Creston City Administrator Mike Taylor said as of Friday morning, there were no plans for the city to help residents clear away piles of debris, which many have placed near the curb outside their home. “It’s kind of a tough situation,” Taylor said. “We do the pick-ups twice a year, and the timing’s not too good on this. Our trucks are busy doing other things, our sewer guys are busy.” Taylor advises residents to contact Prairie Solid Waste Agency. “We are definitely aware of the situation and we’re not ignoring it,” he said. “But perhaps the best thing to do is contact Prairie Solid Waste, make sure they’re open, and just take it out there themselves.” County roads Several roads in Union County have damage from flood water. “Just about every road where there is a bridge was closed yesterday,” said Jim Mason at Union County Law Enforcement Center. “If there is a bridge, it’s probably closed.” Highways running through the county are open. “With the wind and rain, some of the ‘road closed’ signs were knocked down,” said Nurnberg. “If you see a sign laying in the road, stop and set it back up. Don’t drive over it.” Other areas Clean up from flooding in other areas continues. Wilmoth Nichols reported damage in the Tingley are from Thursday’s storm as ranging from wind, rain and some hail. “There are some tree limbs down,” said Nichols. “A tree limb fell on the Dirk Johnson home.”