Cleanup efforts continue in Pleasant Hill after tornado rips through town
The neighborhood east of Pleasant Hill Elementary on Birch Boulevard took a direct hit from the EF-2 tornado that blew through town Friday night.
People in this part of the Des Moines suburb say their homes somehow avoided serious damage, unlike some just blocks away, but the tornado that was on the ground for more than 7 miles and had peak wind speeds of 125-135 mph left many with damage to vehicles and landscaping.
"But really I got lucky on the house, my truck not so much," said Mike Darin.
He says he knew it was time to go to the basement when he saw his flag spinning in circles on its pole.
"As it got closer it got louder and louder and louder," he said.
"I thought it sounded like it was going to quit, then the next thing we know the power went out, so I was in the basement, and you know how they say it sounds like a freight train, I never believed those people. It does," said Kathy McNorris who lives just across the street from Darin.
McNorris lost most of her windows and the privacy fence around her pool. Her neighbor's trampoline was picked up by the wind and was flung over several houses before catching on a branch. As of Monday afternoon, it was still stuck in a tree.
McNorris said they're lucky no one was killed by the storm as she pointed to a limb that speared a water filter and came out the other side.
Many stumps are still uprooted, left over from the 125 mph winds, according to the National Weather Service.
None may be bigger than Mary Kay Buchacker's giant elm that fell from her hill, landing not on her home, but in the street.
"When I came up, all I saw was this big tree," Buchacker said.
She says she's thankful to have neighbors and family to cut it up and put it on the curb for the cleanup crews.
"That's ... That's what we do, help each other," Buchacker said.
Crews are asking those with damage to help speed up the process by separating items like trees and plants from other debris.
Those that need help or want to help are asked to call 211. Monetary donations can also be made through the disaster relief fund on .
There is an emergency parking ban in place here in Pleasant Hill through Wednesday during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) so crews can maneuver their way through the brush and pick it up.
According to the City of Pleasant Hill's Facebook page, the ban is in effect on:
- East Oakwood Dr between at South Pleasant Hill Blvd and Scott Ave
- South Pleasant Hill Blvd between East Oakwood Dr and Parkridge Ave
- Kimberly Ln
- Dee Dr
- Parkview Dr
- Schaffer Blvd
- Linden Blvd
- Pine Valley Dr (West of S Hickory Blvd)
- Catalpa Dr
- Cypress Dr (West of S Hickory Blvd)
- Birch Blvd
- Orchard Dr (West of S Hickory Blvd)
- Beech Blvd
