Storms Pummel Midwest, Scare Visitors

Kansas tornadoes smash homes, spook elephants

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 6, 2008 2:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – Severe weather lashed the Great Plains yesterday after forecasters warned of a possible tornado outbreak as bad as the 1974 one that spawned 39 twisters, AP reports. At least four tornadoes touched down in Kansas, causing widespread damage and spooking a pair of runaway circus elephants. Heavy rains caused rivers in Iowa to burst their banks. More storms are expected today.

"This will be a train effect," said an emergency management coordinator for a southern Iowa county. "Storm after storm after storm is going to go over the same area."

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

One of Monica Tvrdy's remaining 11 goats relaxes atop what was the goat shed on the Eugene and Betty Tvrdy farm west of Ceresco, Neb., Thursday, June 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Bill Wolf)

An escaped elephant wanders through Gloria and Melvin Folkers' backyard in WaKeeney, Kan., on Thursday, June 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Gloria Folkers)

Erwin Fagel removes debris from his store that was damaged from a tornado in Waldron, Ind., Wednesday, June 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Severe storms in Nebraska produce rotation, hail, and strong winds. (BrandonIvey)

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Storms Pummel Midwest, Scare Visitors