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SWCC hit by tornado, Creston hospital may also have been hit by the twister

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April 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Creston confirmed late Saturday night that a tornado struck the town, and caused damage to at least two structures. During a press conference, emergency officials said the tornado hit Southwestern Community College just after 7-p.m.  The same tornado or straight line winds, also caused damage to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. The hospital sustained what officials said was “significant damage.” There were reports of injuries, but no reported fatalities as of late Saturday night. Patients at the hospital were transported to Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, about 25 miles away

Creston Mayor Warren Woods says a storm swept through the town of about 7,800 residents between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, damaging the northwest corner of the community. The Des Moines Register, citing Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer, reported more than 100 firefighters, most of them volunteers, as well as state and county disaster crews were combing through wreckage late Saturday night into early this morning, in search of any missing people.  Firefighters switched to a 12-hour rotation to keep up relief efforts through the night. As many as 75 police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers from across central Iowa were said to be on hand maintaining security, directing traffic and assisting in public aid.