Minden continues rebuilding efforts after second tornado clips town

MINDEN, Iowa (WOWT) - It’s nearly been two weeks since an EF-3 tornado tore apart homes and businesses in the Pottawattamie County town of Minden.

“We lost our water plant, 90% of our business district is gone,” said mayor Kevin Zimmerman. “35 to 40% of our homes are either damaged or not livable.”

As residents work to rebuild what’s lost, more severe weather struck Monday night, including another tornado preliminarily rated as an EF-1. Seven properties in town and a hog confinement were damaged, but thankfully, no injuries were reported. No major damage to homes in the area was noted, but several outbuildings and trees were destroyed. Several power poles were snapped causing power outages in the area. Power was restored in nearby Neola before midnight and restored in Minden by 3 a.m. Tuesday.

“Tuesday morning HyVee Disaster Relief showed up with some more generators,” Zimmerman said. “Those generators are going to sit there until we’re done with them.”

Zimmerman told 6 News Hy-Vee’s Disaster Relief team supplied Minden with more generators, which the city will use as long as it needs to.

He also said Monday night’s bump in the road to recovery isn’t setting them back.

“They know it’s stressful they know it’s this and that, but most of them say they’re coming back,” Zimmerman said. “They’re going to build a house, they’re going to remodel their house and the business is the same, It’s just going to be a hard year.”

The town’s water wells are slowly running again and local organizations are still providing essential items and services.

“Having to worry where your food is coming from, or where you’re going to sleep, or where you’re going to find the support is the last thing they should have to worry about,” said Anna Killpack, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Southwest Iowa chapter.

NAMI will be in Minden providing resources through Sunday, May 12. As for the timeline for recovery, Zimmerman estimates it’s going to take the town three years or so to rebuild their water plant, power generators, and several other buildings.

If you’d like to help Minden get back on its feet you can donate here.

If you were impacted by the storm and are in need of mental health resources provided by NAMI Southwest Iowa, click here.

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