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2 years since deadly tornado in Madison County, how the community continues to rebuild

In the aftermath of the unthinkable, support for the community poured in from across the state, and the country.

MADISON COUNTY, Iowa — Tuesday marks two years since a deadly tornado ripped through central Iowa. Seven people were killed that day: one in Chariton and six people in Madison County. 

In the years following the unthinkable event, rebuilding efforts across the county have been immense. The EF-4 tornado ripped through the hills of Winterset, a small but tight-knit community. 

It’s a day that residents across the county will never forget. 

“Today being the 2-year anniversary, people are remembering what happened two years ago. It wasn’t twenty years ago, it was two years ago," said Dio Ayala, Director of Madison County EMA

Ayala was one of the first people to respond to the tragedy and had been in his role for only a short time before the tornado struck. 

"That day, I got up and sent out a warning to people and on social media," he told Local 5. "Around three o'clock, I started to realize that it was actually coming toward our county."

Claiming lives while destroying land and possessions, the recovery effort after that tornado has been substantial.

Winterset Mayor Tom Leners wasn't in his current role when the tornado came through, but he was a long-time resident of the county living in Winterset. 

"The trauma of the event is pretty significant too, for some of the folks and including me," Leners said.

Around 60 properties throughout the county were affected by the storm, many of them homes. In the aftermath of the tragedy, support for the community poured in from across the state, and the country.

"All in all, the human spirit was very strong," Leners told Local 5. "We had so many helpers, and so many people committed to the cause.”

"People from all over the country, people came over from overseas just to help rebuild," Ayala said. 

That outpouring of support from near and far generated over $500,000 donations dedicated to the rebuilding effort. Some of that money went directly to those who lost their homes. 

Most of the damaged structures have been repaired, and physical wounds have healed. But the emotional toll still weighs on residents.

“I've talked to some families already this morning, who went through a lot of things and just wanted to talk about what that day again," Ayala said. "The mental side is gonna take a lot, lot longer to rebuild than the physical side.”

Two years later, that dark day will never be forgotten. Thankfully, the widespread support shown to the community in the aftermath lives on too.

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