Storm causes extensive damage, power outage

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Seward, Utica and surrounding areas sustained much damage during severe nighttime storms June 14.

The National Weather Service reported a cluster of supercell thunderstorms that moved east across southeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, beginning around 10 p.m. A second storm system rolled through around 2:30 a.m.

“The storms produced widespread wind gusts of 75 to 115 mph, hail 1 to 3 inches in diameter, and two EF1 tornadoes,” the NWS said. “The storms caused widespread tree damage, and some structural damage to homes and businesses.

The tornadoes were reported in Murdock (Cass County) and Treynor, Iowa, though storm spotters also reported a tornado on the ground near Malcolm (Lancaster County).

In Seward County, wind-driven hail destroyed siding, roofs, windows and crops, and winds blew down grain bins and power poles throughout a 20-mile path ranging from 2 to 7 miles wide.

Between Seward and Utica, at least 20 irrigation pivots were mangled or overturned in the storm.

Several grain bins were flattened, sucked inward or had their roofs torn off, and trees split in half or were uprooted. Hail damage to crops was extensive.

The Norris Public Power District reported extensive damage to its electrical system, with more than 800 customers without power the following morning, largely in the Utica area.

The outage lasted almost two days.

“There are 75-plus transmission and many distribution poles down. Restoration is expected to be lengthy. If you are without power, at this point, you could be without electricity for an extended period,” the company wrote on its social media the morning after the storm.

Crews began work immediately to restore power, with mutual aid from the Butler Public Power District, Polk County Rural Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power District, which sent linemen and trucks to assist.

Power was restored to most customers around 6:40 p.m. on June 16.

Utica residents also experienced trouble with the village’s water system because of the outage.

The village’s water tower was already out of service for painting and interior maintenance, which meant the water system was relying on its wells.

According to village officials, when the power went out, the backup generator kicked on to run the wells, but then kicked back off, causing the system to lose pressure.

Water service was restored within a couple of hours, but state requirements mandated an order be issued for residents to boil all drinking water before consumption – something that was hard for many to do without power.

Village water operators submitted two rounds of water samples taken 24 hours apart to the state lab to test for coliform and E. coli bacteria. All tests came back negative, and the boil water order was lifted around 3 p.m. on June 17.

In Seward, Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park endured extensive damage, as did other businesses and residences. Walmart Grocery and Pharmacy closed for two days to clean up broken skylights and repair coolers that were damaged because of the storm.