Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson issued a curfew in southern Washington County, effective from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to the large tornado that hit the area Friday afternoon.
"This area includes all property east from Highway 30 and Highway 31 to Highway 75," a release from the Sheriff's Office reads. "Blair south to the Washington/Douglas county line. Only property owners are allowed in the area."
According to the Three Rivers Nebraska Scanner, a tornado emergency was issued around 4 p.m. in Washington County and Harrison County, Iowa.
Dan Douglas, Washington County emergency manager, said the tornado hit to the east and west of the Blair Executive Airport, as well as near Fort Calhoun.
"Law enforcement and fire and rescue are going door-to-door to the damaged or destroyed houses checking on people," he said.
Capt. Shane Thallas of the Sheriff's Office said the tornado entered the county on the east side of the village of Washington before heading northeast towards Cargill and the Fort Calhoun Station in a straight line.
"We had Able-1 with Omaha fly a path and they said it was pretty much a mile wide the whole way through, and it was on the ground the whole way through," he said.
Thallas said there were no serious injuries nor fatalities reported following the storm.
"There were some minor injuries from flying debris... dozens and dozens of houses were destroyed, outbuildings, animals, livestock, there's numerous powerlines down throughout the path of the storm," he said.
To assist in the emergency efforts, Thallas said more deputies will be patroling near the path of the destruction overnight and for the foreseeable future.
"We anticipate looting," he said.
Next steps following the storm, Doulgas said First Lutheran Church in Blair will act as a shelter for those affected by the storm, and the emergency management teams will conduct life safety measures.
Erika Cada of First Lutheran Church said the team there is on standby waiting for any potential guests.
The Red Cross also supplied items if needed.
"I don't know whether we'll have anybody tonight," she said. "It's hard to say. But we're here if people need us."
Van DeWald, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said as of 7 p.m., they were still assessing the damage in Washington County.
"It was a very large tornado based on what we were seeing on the TV," he said.
Douglas said power outages are occurring around the county.
"We've got some propane lines broken, stuff like that, as well," he said.
Thallas said he encourages individuals to stay home and to avoid the areas of destruction.
"Unless you need to be in these areas, please don't be in these areas," he said. "It's just going to be so much traffic anyway because we're going to have families, friends trying to help the victims of this tornado.
"Right now is the time we need to be people helping people."
This is an ongoing story. The Enterprise will provide updates as they become available.
