Manson, IA Tornado Damage, June 1979

TORNADOES KILL 4, RUPTURE CHEMICAL TANKS.

Manson, Iowa (AP) -- Tornadoes that raked the Iowa Plains wiped out neighborhoods and forced evacuation of a small town where two tanks holding a toxic chemical ruptured. Four persons were killed and about 70 others injured, authorities said.
About 40 twisters spotted Thursday night uprooted trees, knocked out power and telephone lines and ripped through homes and businesses in six communities in northern and central Iowa, officials said.
The National Guard was called out to help the two hardest hit towns, Manson and Algona, which had been preparing to start a week-long celebration of its 125th anniversary Saturday.
Tornadoes also were reported Thursday in Minnesota, North Dakota, Colorado and Arkansas. Some damage was reported in those states but no deaths or serious injuries.
Four people were killed and about two dozen injured in Manson, officials said. Some 24 businesses and 100 homes were reported destroyed or heavily damaged.
Police Officer JOHN EWING said no homes were life in the area from downtown to the southeast edge of town. "It's just gone, clear out to the edge of town," EWING said. "The houses are gone."
HAROLD RICKLEFS, of rural Fort Dodge, rushed to Manson and had to dig his mother out of the rubble that was left of her kitchen.
"It's a mess, I'll tell you," RICKLEFS said as he surveyed damage in the farming town of 1,900 people. "It just flattened houses. The streets are all blocked."
In Algona, 40 miles to the north, twisters heavily damaged a shopping center and a 100-square block area. Ten persons were hospitalized with injuries and 35 others were treated and released, officials said.
Also hit by a twister was Renwick, 30 miles northeast of Manson. Some 420 residents were evacuated when two tanks holding anhydrous ammonia -- a fertilizer -- ruptured and released toxic fumes.
One tank later sealed itself and a second 25,000 gallon tank was sealed. The residents began returning home early today, the highway patrol reported.
Lt. Gov. TERRY BRANSTAD, National Guard, State Patrol and Disaster Services officials were to visit the area today. A spokesman said Gov. ROBERT RAY may be called back from Romania where he is on a tour with the National Governor's Association.
Police in Webster City, 30 miles east of Manson, reported that several farms were destroyed in a tornado path 10 miles long just northeast of the city.
Damage was reported in houses in Dawson in central Iowa. A half dozen trailer homes were destroyed in DeSoto in Dallas County and a supermarket was destroyed in Goldfield.
Tornadoes destroyed three homes and damaged 19 others and a church in south-central Minnesota and left the town of Mountain Lake cut off with roads closed and power lines down.
A tornado damaged homes, barns and downed power lines in Arkansas. The state's Highway 95 was closed for several hours after high winds littered it with tree limbs and power lines.

Chronicle Telegram Elyria Ohio 1979-06-29
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!