Devastation in Iowa City Tonight

Wow...glad you guys are ok Jay. Thanks for posting the details. I
can't imagine what it must have been like...or is like at the moment
with the cleanup and folks sorting life out.

The Governor has now declared a State of Emergency for Johnson County,
which was actually hit by FIVE tornadoes, two of which hit Iowa City,
according to the newspaper...

To see a bunch of pics, go to
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage and click on P-C
and user photo galleries.

It's a humbling experience to see neighborhoods that look like they
were bombed...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article .com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

I like the one of the college kid carrying the traffic light back to his
dorm room.

"Jay Honeck" wrote

It's a humbling experience to see neighborhoods that look like they
were bombed...

Wow! You are one lucky sucker, to have missed that twister, by so little.
I'll add my "glad that you and family are all OK" also.

Any word on what number on the scale this twister was? I'm guessing F-3 or
F-4, from the looks of viewing a portion of the pictures. It could even go
F-5, I suppose.

I hope the whole country gets together, and sends lots of help your way.

Well, I'm sure you will be busy, for a good while. 100% occupancy at the
hotel will be a sure thing, for the foreseeable future, I guess.

Even though I lived in the Midwest (NW Ohio) for over 25 years, I never saw
anything like this in person. I'm only thankful, for that fact.
--
Jim in NC

("Morgans" wrote)
Any word on what number on the scale this twister was? I'm guessing F-3
or F-4, from the looks of viewing a portion of the pictures. It could
even go F-5, I suppose.


A wide F-3 would do that type of damage. You want to see an F-4? Check out
the Comfrey, MN Tornado of 1998. 3-28-1998 (4:30pm). That one still gives me
the willies.

F3 will splinter your house. F4 will wipe the slab clean of debris.

http://www.skywarn.ampr.org/98ma29.htm
Jay's Iowa City tornado damage looks like St Peter's damage from this same
March 1998 storm. Photo links scattered around this site.

http://www.gusties.org/cleanup/
St Peter, MN 1998 (F3)

http://www.sigmamaps.com/StPeter/stpindex.htm
March 28, 1998 (5:20 pm)

Here's mine last year. We hid our cars under a parking ramp that evening.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/TornadoS...nesota2005.php
Sept 21, 2005 Blaine-Coon Rapids
2 miles long, 50 yards wide path. (F2) Trees, roofs, sheds, signs, etc.

The Siren , WI tornado in 2001 was bad, too. Weather experts will rate the
tornado after studying the area during a walk around. The Siren tornado -
they kept moving the F number up, then down, then back up, then back down.
Don't recall what they settled on? Might be some politics going on - aid
money difference?


Montblack

Any word on what number on the scale this twister was? I'm guessing F-3 or
F-4, from the looks of viewing a portion of the pictures. It could even go
F-5, I suppose.

Actually, they're calling it an F2. Actually, they're calling it TWO
F2s.

Well, I'm sure you will be busy, for a good while. 100% occupancy at the
hotel will be a sure thing, for the foreseeable future, I guess.

Strangely, it seems to be working just the opposite -- we are totally
DEAD. I've received a lot of calls from pre-existing reservations,
asking if we're still in business -- and I think a fair number of
people aren't calling, period, because they think Iowa City has been
wiped off the map...

:-(

Anyone want a suite, cheap? Fly on over -- the weather is GREAT!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote

Strangely, it seems to be working just the opposite -- we are totally
DEAD. I've received a lot of calls from pre-existing reservations,
asking if we're still in business -- and I think a fair number of
people aren't calling, period, because they think Iowa City has been
wiped off the map...

I am totally surprised at that . I would think that there would be plenty
of people who had their houses make uninhabitable, and would be looking for
a place to stay for a couple months.
--
Jim in NC

I am totally surprised at that . I would think that there would be plenty
of people who had their houses make uninhabitable, and would be looking for
a place to stay for a couple months.

Most of the lost housing was student housing. Big, older homes that
have been subdivided, or are rented by 15 college kids.

Since they were already basically mosh pits, the displaced kids simply
all go bed down in the next hovel down... They're not the kind to go
rent an aviation theme suite for a month or two.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article om,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Any word on what number on the scale this twister was? I'm guessing F-3 or
F-4, from the looks of viewing a portion of the pictures. It could even go
F-5, I suppose.

Actually, they're calling it an F2. Actually, they're calling it TWO
F2s.

Well, I'm sure you will be busy, for a good while. 100% occupancy at the
hotel will be a sure thing, for the foreseeable future, I guess.

Strangely, it seems to be working just the opposite -- we are totally
DEAD. I've received a lot of calls from pre-existing reservations,
asking if we're still in business -- and I think a fair number of
people aren't calling, period, because they think Iowa City has been
wiped off the map...

Start contacting the insurance adjusters and let them know what you have
available.

Even though I lived in the Midwest (NW Ohio) for over 25 years, I never saw
anything like this in person. I'm only thankful, for that fact.

I toured Xenia in 1974.
Reminiscent of a bombed out town from WWII.

"john smith" wrote

I toured Xenia in 1974.
Reminiscent of a bombed out town from WWII.

I saw the town after they had cleared away all of the destruction.

It was strange to see blocks and blocks totally cleared of all structures,
in a path all of the way through town. Simply impossible to comprehend.
--
Jim in NC