DENISON, Iowa (KTIV) – Another day of severe weather occurred across parts of western and northwest Iowa, Wednesday. The storms began firing-up at around Noon, bringing in high winds and hail. Large hail was seen in Crawford and Harrison Counties, in Denison and Dow City, but it appears that the community of Dunlap saw the most hail damage.
Residents of Dunlap, with a population just over 1,000, could be seen helping each other with the aftermath. KTIV reports from three sides of most homes, the damage didn’t look extensive, but on the western side, you could see the full power of the first storm that went through Dunlap. For home after home, the western side had severe hail damage, with holes visible in the siding. Windows were also shattered all over town.
Roofing companies were seen in the community, and neighbors were helping each other pick up the pieces of glass, as well as tree limbs and branches. After the first storm at around 11:30 a.m., Dunlap saw a second round of hail later that afternoon. Glen Birks, Harrison County Emergency Management Coordinator said the hail estimated at around 2-inches in diameter caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and vehicles.
Boyer Valley Community School, the district for Dunlap and the surrounding area, was damaged when the severe weather went through the community. The damage was enough at the Dunlap school building that the district dismissed class early. When students were released at 12:30-p.m., they found their vehicles in the parking lot had shattered windows and sunroofs, not to mention large dents. Crews spent Wednesday afternoon removing broken glass from what appeared to be a skylight above the main entrance to the high school in Dunlap.
