Tragedy in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa — A tornado hit a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa Wednesday evening, killing at least four people and injuring between 30 and 40 others.

Courtney Greene, a spokeswoman for Governor Chet Culver, says the tornado hit the Little Sioux scout camp. Speaking from the state Emergency Operations Center, which is mobilized because of flooding across Iowa, Greene said authorities have been told of multiple injuries and the potential loss of life.

The camp is located in western Iowa on the Harrison-Monona county line, north of Council Bluffs.Greene says a large number of state troopers are on scene and that a search and rescue team has been dispatched to the area from Sioux City. She doesn’t know why they are needed, just that local officials asked for the team.

Authorities have asked parents and residents to stay away from the scene so rescuers can work. A hotline for families with children at the camp has been set up at 402-431-9272.

About 100 campers were said to be at the site when the storm hit. Camp officials said they had been warned that a storm was coming. On Sunday, campers were told where to go in case severe weather hit during their stay.

KCCI also learned that DOT crews have been sent to the area with chain saws to help clear a path for rescuers. The tornado downed a large number of trees.

KETV reports that a scout master said there was adequate warning of the approaching tornado, but there was no place to seek shelter in the camp. The scout master says there were 96 campers at the site and they were essentially trapped by the tornado. He says many of the camp buildings were flattened. KETV reports many of those injured had head injuries.

The tornado struck around 7 pm. A line of severe thunderstorms with the threat for tornadoes and heavy rain is sweeping across western Iowa this evening and will enter central Iowa later tonight.

Stay tuned to KCCI-TV and KCCI.com for updates.

http://www.kcci.com/news/16579043/detail.html?rss=des&psp=news

Prayers for the Scouts, Scouters, and their families!

This entry was posted on June 11, 2008 at 8:28 pm and is filed under Scouting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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