Until this date one year ago, how many had heard the weather term derecho? Iowa, and especially Marshall County, won’t forget that term after that storm unleased violent winds, hail and buckets of rain. And it happened 25 months after an EF-3 tornado ripped through the Marshalltown Main Street area…AND in the midst of a pandemic. That was a challenge for Marshall County Emergency Management Coordinator Kim Elder because you just couldn’t usher folks without homes and power into a shelter like you normally might.

However, City Administrator Jessica Kinser notes that the July 2018 tornado, in a roundabout way, helped when it came to disaster response after the tornado.

Still, the extent of the damage was overwhelming. The iconic Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown was particularly hard hit with tree damage and monuments blown over like they were twigs.

The cemetery still owes over $165,000 on the initial bill of $700,000 just for tree removal. Many home and business owners are still working with insurance and contractors to make repairs a year later, some of whom weren’t done with tornado repairs one year ago when the costliest thunderstorm in the history of the COUNTRY took place. As City Administrator Kinser notes, the community is rebuilding itself to be ever better…and stronger in the years to come.