Tornado leaves parts of southern Iowa town Tingley in ruins

Historic community center lost in Tingley, Iowa, tornado

replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. New tonight - The small, southern Iowa town of Tingley is cleaning up blocks and blocks of tornado damage. ��vlog Senior Reporter Todd Magel is in Ringold county with a tour of the damage. (jERRY cLARK/ CITY COUNCIL) <JUST SEEING THE DEVASTATION, IT'S JUST TERRIBLE. I MEAN, I'M JUST APPALLED. IT WAS JUST CRAZY, ESPECIALLY THIS PLACE, > Tingley city councilman Jerry Clark is still in shock. The Friday night tornado blasted through the town of about 130 people. The community center that dates back to the 1940's is a total loss. Now they only have memories of the thousands of weddings, funerals and family reunions once held here. (Jo Clark/ City clerk ) <IT'S BEEN VERY HARD. WE HAD PEOPLE COMING FROM SHENANDOAH TODAY TO COME TO SEE THE REMAINS OF THE BUILDING THAT THEY CHERISH> Jerry's wife Jo is the Tingley city clerk. They are also dealing with a personal loss. The tornado destroyed their home a few blocks away. It also totaled a brand new RV, and blew this older RV into a big tree. <AND WE LOST EVERYTHING. HOUSE. EVERYTHING. > It's A powerful reminder of the 120 miles per hour wind speed, so strong it blew out nearly an entire wall of this former church along the main street. (Rick Supinger/ Contractor) <IT BLEW A WINDOW OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND THEN WHEN THE PRESSURE CAME IN THE BUILDING IT BLEW THIS SIDE OUT> (Buddy Allen) <PERSONALLY, IT'S PROBABLY THE WORST I'VE EVER SEEN.> Buddy Wilson was out of town friday night and returned to find his shop ruined.He says the power went out and the tornado sirens didn't go off. < NO WARNING AT ALL. BUT NOBODY HURT. NOPE> < NOBODY WAS HURT. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, PEOPLE LIVED THROUGH THIS AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE STRONGER FOR IT.> <DESPITE ALL THIS DAMAGE THE TOWN SAYS IT WILL REBUILT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN

Historic community center lost in Tingley, Iowa, tornado

The small, southern Iowa town of Tingley is cleaning up blocks and blocks of tornado damage. “Just seeing the devastation, it's just terrible. I mean, I'm just appalled. It was just crazy, especially this place,” said Tingley City Councilman Jerry Clark.Clark is still in shock. The Friday night tornado — one of at least two dozen in south-central and western Iowa — blasted through the Ringgold County town of about 130 people. The community center that dates to the 1940s is a total loss. Now, they only have memories of the thousands of weddings, funerals and family reunions once held here.“It's been very hard. We had people coming from Shenandoah today to come to see the remains of the building that they cherish,” said City Clerk Jo Clark. The Clarks are also dealing with a personal loss. The tornado destroyed their home a few blocks away. It also totaled a brand-new RV and blew an older RV into a big tree.“And we lost everything. House. Everything,” said Jerry Clark. It's a powerful reminder of the 120 miles per hour wind speed, so strong it blew out nearly an entire wall of this former church along the main street.“It blew a window out on the other side, and then when the pressure came in the building, it blew this side out,” said repair contractor Rick Supinger.Buddy Allen was out of town Friday night and returned to find his shop ruined. He says the power went out, and the tornado sirens didn't go off. The city clerk says the sirens didn't go off because the power out was out, due to an issue before the tornado.“Personally, it’s probably the worst I've ever seen,” said Allen.“Nobody was hurt. Amazingly enough, people lived through this, and they are going to be stronger for it,” said Jo Clark.Despite all this damage, the town says it will rebuild the community center.More tornado coverage

TINGLEY, Iowa —

The small, southern Iowa town of Tingley is cleaning up blocks and blocks of tornado damage.

“Just seeing the devastation, it's just terrible. I mean, I'm just appalled. It was just crazy, especially this place,” said Tingley City Councilman Jerry Clark.

Clark is still in shock. The Friday night tornado — one of at least two dozen in south-central and western Iowa — blasted through the Ringgold County town of about 130 people.

The community center that dates to the 1940s is a total loss. Now, they only have memories of the thousands of weddings, funerals and family reunions once held here.

“It's been very hard. We had people coming from Shenandoah today to come to see the remains of the building that they cherish,” said City Clerk Jo Clark.

The Clarks are also dealing with a personal loss. The tornado destroyed their home a few blocks away. It also totaled a brand-new RV and blew an older RV into a big tree.

“And we lost everything. House. Everything,” said Jerry Clark.

It's a powerful reminder of the 120 miles per hour wind speed, so strong it blew out nearly an entire wall of this former church along the main street.

“It blew a window out on the other side, and then when the pressure came in the building, it blew this side out,” said repair contractor Rick Supinger.

Buddy Allen was out of town Friday night and returned to find his shop ruined. He says the power went out, and the tornado sirens didn't go off.

The city clerk says the sirens didn't go off because the power out was out, due to an issue before the tornado.

“Personally, it’s probably the worst I've ever seen,” said Allen.

“Nobody was hurt. Amazingly enough, people lived through this, and they are going to be stronger for it,” said Jo Clark.

Despite all this damage, the town says it will rebuild the community center.