Deadly Storm Hits Eastern Nebraska: Woman Killed, Man Injured, State Park Closed; 387 Prisoners Displaced after Two Units Damaged

A powerful predawn storm in eastern Nebraska claimed one life and left another critically injured at Two Rivers State Park. The incident occurred around 7 a.m., when responders discovered a vehicle pinned beneath a massive cottonwood tree. The storm, which bore winds exceeding 80 mph according to the National Weather Service, caused the tree’s uprooting.

First responders from the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department found the female victim deceased at the scene. A male occupant was trapped within the vehicle. Extrication took approximately 90 minutes due to the tree’s size and weight. Upon being freed, the male was transported to an Omaha hospital with critical injuries, as reported by Waterloo Fire Chief Travis Harlow.

Two Rivers State Park, a popular camping destination situated about 8 kilometers west of Omaha’s western border, sustained significant damage. Across eastern Nebraska, high winds brought down trees, damaged roofs, and caused power outages. In Blair, located approximately 20 miles north of Omaha, a warehouse’s roof was torn open by the violent gusts.

The storm also affected the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, where two housing units were damaged, leading to the displacement of 387 prisoners. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services confirmed that no injuries were reported, and all staff members and inmates are accounted for.

Strong storms also struck parts of eastern Wisconsin on Saturday, with winds reaching 60 mph on the Door Peninsula, as per the National Weather Service.

The weather service anticipates additional powerful storms across the Midwest’s central region from late Saturday evening through Sunday. This warning encompasses areas ranging from western Colorado to Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin.