Cleanup and damage assessments are underway in Hull after a powerful storm brought down large trees and power lines Tuesday night, knocking out electricity to a large portion of the community.
Sioux County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan De Kruyf says the storms initially appeared likely to stay north of Sioux County before shifting south and moving through the area. A weather station near Hudson on the Iowa side of the Big Sioux River recorded a wind gust of 81 miles per hour, while De Kruyf says a gust of around 50 miles per hour was reported in Hawarden.
Hull was among the communities hit hardest.
“There’s quite a bit of trees down. There was a rather large tree that fell on a house, and one of the main power lines knocked a bunch of power out to a good portion of the town.”
De Kruyf estimated power was out to portions of Hull for just under 12 hours. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office advised against travel in Hull Tuesday night because of tree branches and power lines in roadways and also reported road closures in the area of Railroad, Fourth and Chestnut streets because of a downed power line.
Trees Fall on Several Homes
De Kruyf says multiple trees or branches fell onto homes in Hull. One of the trees that brought down a major power line also landed on a house, breaking a window and likely causing some roof damage.
Initial assessments, however, showed none of the homes sustained damage severe enough to make them uninhabitable.
More importantly, De Kruyf says no one was hurt.
“Thankfully there was no injuries or loss of life. I know it scared a lot of people. Just the amount and the size of the trees and the branches that that actually fell were, were pretty big.”
De Kruyf estimated one tree that fell onto a power line was roughly two to two-and-a-half feet in diameter and appeared healthy, leading him to believe a strong gust of wind brought it down.
Damage assessments were expected to continue throughout Wednesday as officials receive additional reports from residents.
Weather Service Reviewing Possible Tornado
A personal weather station near Hudson recorded a wind gust of 81 miles per hour.
A Tornado Warning was issued shortly after 10 Tuesday night after radar indicated rotation between Carmel, Hull and Boyden. De Kruyf initially provided drone footage and surveyed the area to assist the National Weather Service.
He tells Sioux County Radio Wednesday that, after speaking with the Weather Service, officials are confident the damage was caused by straight-line winds and not a tornado.
Pictures of Storm Damage from Tuesday Night in Hull Courtesy of Sioux County Emergency Management
