(Massena, IA) – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Egg Coop (74868 Victoria Road) near Massena, Saturday, posted photos on their social media page, of damage to the roof of one of their five egg production buildings that occurred during Friday night’s storms which passed through the southeast part of Cass County.
In their post, SWI Egg said “We are glad to report that no people or chickens were injured during the storm!” They thanks members of their crew, “…who worked through the night, along with board and community members for jumping in this morning and Farmers Electric Co-Op and Alliant Energy for getting power restored.”
They advised also, “Egg production continues as normal so we will have eggs available for purchase as usual on Monday morning. Although the damage is substantial we are thankful it wasn’t worse. Just a gentle reminder that due to biosecurity and safety concerns please do not enter the property.”
SWI Egg’s building was one of several structures damaged during severe storms, that sent debris from broke trees and other objects flying. Law enforcement in Cass County reported late Friday night, that a road was blocked by debris in the southwest part of the county. Trees in the area were uprooted, some rural outbuildings and crops were damaged by suspected tornadic winds, not to mention heavy rain and flooding. Power was lost in several areas around Massena.
The National Weather Service had issued two tornado warnings beginning at around 10-p.,m., Friday, for the area. The storms moved slowly eastward before picking-up speed once they moved into Adair County. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, toured the affected area Saturday morning, and said afterward there was a concentrated area of damage that began in the vicinity of 710th Street, between Wichita and Victoria Road, south of Cumberland & Massena, and extending eastward.
Kennon was in-touch with the National Weather Service to see if they would be willing to send a damage assessment team to the area, to determine if the damage was caused by a tornado, or straight-line thunderstorm winds.
