Iowa governor visits town after EF-3 tornado caused ‘gut-wrenching’ devastation

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) visited Greenfield after a tornado tore through the town, and praised the community for its response in helping each other.

Early storm surveys from the National Weather Service have confirmed the twister was at least an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale , with wind gusts of 136 to 165 miles per hour. Forecasters say Iowa has had the most tornadoes so far this year at 81.

At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Reynolds said the damage is "gut-wrenching," and was amazed by the response the local residents have had to its tragic circumstances.

"A friend was going through a neighbor's place looking for photos and just personal items that she could get back to the owner," Reynolds said. "So you just see that over and over, and just the amount of people willing to step up and step in."

Reynolds said she is confident that the counties impacted will be able to recover "fairly quickly." The governor clarified that a specific number of deaths and injuries cannot be provided yet as authorities are still searching through the rubble for survivors.

Reynolds added that both local and state law enforcement are working together to provide security to the town as it recovers, and she herself has issued a disaster proclamation to allow state resources to help local residents. The town is also "probably" going to wait on accepting volunteer help as it continues to go through its debris.

Reynolds also remarked how this is the latest tornado to touch down in the state.

“It was just a few weeks ago that tornadoes hit several other Iowa communities, and it’s hard to believe that it’s happened again,” Reynolds’s statement read . “Iowans are strong and resilient, and we will get through this together.”

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla previously stated that around a dozen people were injured from the severe weather on Tuesday. He added that while officials believe all the town’s residents have been accounted for, they are continuing search efforts for “due diligence.”

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Donnell Griffith, a resident of nearby town Fontanelle, has described the Greenfield community as “resilient,” and stated the community will rebuild itself together.

"We're small but we're mighty," Griffith said.