Weather service confirms EF-3 tornado hit Lincoln, Waverly and Omaha
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Authorities hosted a press conference to update the public on the damage that occurred Friday in Omaha.
Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed in Elkhorn and Bennington.
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.
Five teams from the National Weather Service are in the metro area to assess the damage.
The tornado that went through Lincoln, Waverly and up into Elkhorn and Bennington was as an EF-3 tornado, according to Chris Franks of the weather service.
Winds in an EF-3 tornado range from 135 to 165 mph.
The tornado that touched down near Eppley Airfield and traveled into Iowa was categorized as and EF-2 tornado, according to Franks.
Winds from an EF-2 tornado range from 110 to 135 mph.
Dan Mallory of the Bennington Fire Department said 60 to 65 homes were severely damaged in Bennington, as well as 10 homes in Washington County.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson told people not to drive into the affected areas.
At the time of the tornado, about 10,200 people in the county were left without power.
4,300 residents are still without power.
SEE ALSO: PHOTOS: Tornadoes pass though Lincoln, surrounding areas
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said she will sign an emergency proclamation that will allow reimbursement from state and federal government.
She also said the city will operate a free site for disposal of debris.
The site will be located in the north parking lot of Greenbrier Park from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice, Stothert said.
The City of Omaha will continually update its website throughout cleanup.
Stothert said Common Ground, the community center in Elkhorn, has been working with the Red Cross to provide shelter to those who need it.
SEE ALSO: ‘It was crazy’: Tornado slams building near Lincoln, injuring three
