It’s been two years since an EF3 tornado tore up the landscape at Vermeer Corporation.
On July 19th, 2018, a tornado outbreak spawned in the mid-afternoon across central Iowa, with tornadoes initially touching down near Bondurant. Those storms intensified as they headed east, and spread as far north as the Webster City area.
The two most powerful cells formed from one producing the Bondurant area storm and another that initiated north of Ames and strengthened as it crossed into Marshall County. Several funnel clouds and brief touch downs were reported between Highway 163 and the Skunk River throughout the 3-4 p.m. hour.
Storm Track from the National Weather Service:
From 4:03 to 4:24 p.m., the National Weather Service estimates the same tornado caused damage from just north of Pella all the way into western Mahaska County, and as the storm crossed near 240th Place, it intensified in strength. Head of Vermeer Security Billy Fox made the call to get all on campus into shelter as it was bearing down and gaining steam.
Coverage from 2019 on KNIA/KRLS: interview with Vermeer Head of Security Billy Fox.
As the tornado weakened in Mahaska County after crossing Highway 163, first responders from the region rushed to the scene, as the damage was intense, especially along the eastern half of the Vermeer Mile. And as that storm lifted, another spawned west of Marshalltown, and spun up to EF3 strength as it tore through the heart of that community.
Video of tornado from listeners:
Video submitted by listeners of the tornado that impacted Vermeer Corporation Thursday afternoon. Stay tuned to…
Posted by KNIA KRLS on Thursday, July 19, 2018
In 2019, one year after the storm hit, Vermeer announced several plans to move forward. Today, the new Plant 7 is nearing completion, with full operation expected by the end of the year. Vermeer is releasing a special podcast Monday with Harry Smith talking to Mary and Jason Andringa, the two most recent CEOs of the company.
Vermeer Documentary Released in 2019: