PELLA – Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella damaged from tornado, in addition to damage in other cities in central Iowa.
UPDATE (7 p.m.) – Pella Police released the following statement following the tornado:
At approximately 4:15 pm, July 19, 2018 Pella emergency services responded to a reported tornado touchdown at Vermeer Manufacturing, Pella IA.
At this time, Vermeer Manufacturing sustained significant physical damage to the east end of the manufacturing mile. The amount of building damage is unknown. The number of employees inside the facilities is unknown when the severe weather impacted Vermeer Manufacturing.
There were injured people however the number and extent of injury is unknown at this time. Many surrounding area ambulance, fire, and law enforcement personnel and resources responded to help with incident. Rescue and fire operation continues at this time.
UPDATE (8:30 p.m.)
Several buildings impacted, including a “complete loss” for waste management facility, reported by Vermeer Manufacturing CEO Jason Andringa.
“From the Vermeer family’s perspective and our executive team’s perspective, we are most pleased that all injuries were relatively minor injuries,” Andringa said.
All 7 individuals that were transported to Pella Regional Health Center have been released.