Damage widespread in Eastern Iowa as tornadoes and strong storms rumbled through the area

Damage widespread in Eastern Iowa as tornadoes and strong storms rumble through the area

Reports of damage in several Eastern Iowa counties as the storms cut their way northeast through the state.

Stephen Schmidt Marissa Payne

Marissa Payne

Mar. 31, 2023 6:45 pm, Updated: Apr. 7, 2023 11:08 am

Starting at around 4 p.m., many Eastern Iowans were huddled in their basements as the tornado-producing storms that had been predicted by meteorologists blitzed northeast at 60 miles per hour.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is activating state disaster assistance for 7 Iowa Counties, as tornado-producing storms whipped through Eastern Iowa Friday night, leaving damage in several communities-- but thankfully no reported deaths so far-- in their wake.

Coralville and Hills were the most severely hit in Johnson and Linn Counties, with damage to several buildings within their city limits. Downed trees temporarily blocked Highway 6 and a semi-trailer truck was flipped on its back.In nearby Solon, trees were also downed onto homes and vehicles, a farmhouse was damaged, and a roof was blown off of El Sol Mexican Restaurant downtown.

The Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 Eighth Street is serving as an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm. A tornado that touched down near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and 9th Street in Coralville smashed windows and downed trees in mere minutes as the storms whipped through the area at 60 mph. Thankfully, only minor injuries have been reported so far.

A man takes a picture of storm damage in Hills, Iowa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Community members clean up and survey storm damage in Hills, Iowa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Darwin Ammeter and his wife, Denise, were sheltered in place when a tornado-producing storm blew through Solon on Friday, March 31. They said the rough part of the storm lasted only minutes, but they came outside to see their vehicles crushed by a tree toppled in their frontyard. (Stephen Schmidt / The Gazette)

Cleanup begins after a tornado touched down near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Ninth St, in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday, March 31, 2023. City crews, residents and neighbors worked to clear debris off the roadway and vehicles. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Coriana Moore, 17, pitches in to clean up after a tornado touched down near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Ninth St, in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday, March 31, 2023. City crews, residents and neighbors worked to clear debris off the roadway and vehicles. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Debris littered a parking lot and vehicles were thrown around after a tornado touched down near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Ninth St, in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday, March 31, 2023. City crews, residents and neighbors worked to clear debris off the roadway and vehicles. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Coralville city worker and neighborhood resident Barry Abdouye carries cut tree limbs after a tornado touched down near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Ninth St, in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday, March 31, 2023. City crews, residents and neighbors worked to clear debris off the roadway and vehicles. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Windows were smashed and debris blown around after a tornado touched down near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and Ninth St, in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday, March 31, 2023. City crews, residents and neighbors worked to clear debris off the roadway and vehicles. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Jacob Dilks (right) looks over storm damage to his home in Hills, Iowa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Severe thunderstorms and tornados caused damage across much of the Eastern half of the state. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Community members load belongings into a pickup truck in front of the Dilks’ home in Hills, Iowa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Severe thunderstorms and tornados caused damage across much of the Eastern half of the state.Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Parts of Coralville, Iowa, sustained damage when a line of strong storms swept across the state in the later afternoon and evening of Friday, March 31, 2023. A trampoline that was ripped from a yard ended up in a tree. (Vanessa Miller/The Gazette)

Parts of Coralville, Iowa, sustained damage when a line of strong storms swept across the state in the later afternoon and evening of Friday, March 31, 2023. (Vanessa Miller/The Gazette)

Parts of Coralville, Iowa, sustained damage when a line of strong storms swept across the state in the later afternoon and evening of Friday, March 31, 2023. Above, motorists drive past a partially-downed utility pole. (Vanessa Miller/The Gazette)

Friday night's storm gutted the home of Kari Honsey and Joe Allen west of Wellman. Honsey said it sounded like a train. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

One bystander said a grain elevator uprooted in Wellman was brand new. (Kalen McCain/The Union)