Nebraska Ravaged by Historic Tornadoes and Storms, Leaving Trail of Destruction

 State emergency management reports no confirmed serious injuries or fatalities.

A tornado makes landfall on the outskirts of northeast Lincoln, close to the intersection of 84th Street and Cornhusker Highway. (Photo by Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

In Waverly, Nebraska, a series of at least six tornadoes, deemed "historic" by local meteorologists, swept through eastern Nebraska on Friday. The storms wreaked havoc, flattening a business, overturning a train, and decimating numerous suburban homes near Omaha.

Despite the severity of the storms, as of late Friday, authorities had not confirmed any significant injuries or fatalities. These storms rank among the most devastating to strike the Omaha area since the May 1975 tornadoes, which claimed three lives, injured hundreds, and ravaged an area near 72nd and Pacific Streets.

According to Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, Friday marked a record-breaking day for tornado warnings, with the service issuing at least 41 alerts. This surpassed the previous record set on May 12, 2023, which saw 33 warnings.

Initial assessments suggest the tornadoes that struck Douglas County may have generated record-breaking force for a metropolitan area, meteorologists noted. However, on-the-ground evaluations are required to officially classify the tornadoes as potentially stronger than an EF-3.

Nicolaisen emphasized the historical significance of the event, remarking, "This is pretty historic... This only happens every few decades." Despite the rarity of such events, he cautioned that the aftermath could still pose significant dangers and urged vigilance in the days ahead.

Avoid entering areas that have been affected by the storms.

Douglas County witnessed numerous damaged homes in the Elkhorn and Bennington regions, with Waterloo also experiencing considerable devastation. Authorities emphasized the importance of staying clear of these areas to facilitate the work of first responders. Some residents reported minor injuries.

Sheriff Aaron Hanson of the county cautioned residents in the affected areas about the inherent dangers, stating, "These areas are hazardous. Even if emergency crews aren't actively present, they remain perilous. There's a risk of encountering objects or infrastructure that could cause injury or worse."

In Omaha, Eppley Airfield noted significant damage to its private plane air service section and some to other airport facilities, excluding the commercial flight terminal, which remained operational.

Late into Friday, approximately 7,000 customers served by the Omaha Public Power District remained without power, largely due to storm-related damage to transmission lines, power poles, and infrastructure throughout the region. Local hospitals remained open and continued to admit patients.

Assessment of damage is still ongoing.

Katrina Sperl from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), responsible for gathering and verifying damage and injury reports statewide, stated that NEMA had received reports of building and house damage in Sherman and Greeley Counties, along with downed power poles.

Minor damage was also reported in Boone, Buffalo, Butler, Howard, Platte, and Nance Counties. Emergency management officials mentioned that Washington County was still in the process of assessing its damages as of late Friday. In Lancaster County, at least 12 homes were damaged, and minor injuries were reported in the Waverly area. A tornado derailed a 31-car train and caused a complete building collapse at an industrial facility housing Garner Industries. Three individuals sustained injuries in the collapse, but officials anticipated all to recover. At the time of the incident, seventy people were working inside the manufacturer’s facility, which specializes in plastic injection molding. Tornadoes touched down in Lincoln, with reports of funnels observed southwest and at the northwestern edge of the city. Examiner reporters witnessed at least two funnels touching down just west of Waverly, near 84th Street and Cornhusker Highway, including one that caused the train derailment. BNSF informed 10/11 News that none of its crew members sustained injuries, and there were no spills of chemicals or substances requiring specialized cleanup or hazardous materials teams.

Saturday Pillen Update

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen is set to provide an update to Nebraskans at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. He has directed state resources to be deployed to aid in the emergency response and to back up local first responders.

Pillen expressed confidence in the resilience of Nebraskans, stating, “Nebraskans are tough, resilient people, and our neighbors and communities will rally around affected families and businesses to assist them.” He emphasized the state's familiarity with severe weather and assured that Nebraskans would unite to support each other in rebuilding efforts.

A potential second round of severe weather is forecasted for Saturday, with officials warning of a notable risk of tornadoes and hail, particularly south of Interstate 80. Authorities urged the public to pay close attention to warning systems, which proved critical in saving lives during Friday's events.