PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (WHO) — Many Pleasant Hill residents woke up on Saturday morning to debris, fallen trees, and lowered power lines after a tornado ripped through the western part of the city Friday night.
Several residents said Friday night’s severe weather was unlike anything they’ve experienced before.
“From the sound to the sight, it doesn’t compare,” said Pleasant Hill resident Danielle Norelies.
They described hurrying to their basements or to shelters after seeing the sky turn an electric green color and later hearing what sounded like a freight train.
“It was really loud, like really loud. And just sometimes it was just anxious,” said Makayla Hilsenbeck.
Barron Geiger has lived in Pleasant Hill for four years. Eight of the trees on his property toppled over because of the tornado.
“We ran down to the basement, and we weren’t down there 30 seconds and we just heard a big woosh and a boom boom boom and we thought ‘hey it must’ve missed us,’ but we came down and saw the damage it did to our property,” he said.
While trees laid horizontal in his backyard and front yard, the rest of his property seemed untouched other than slight damage to his roof.
However, other residents weren’t as lucky. The Chief of the Pleasant Hill Fire Department, Jamie Xayavong, confirmed that 18 homes had severe damage, while several others had moderate to minor damages.
One homeowner’s garage on East Oakwood Drive near the intersection with Constitution Boulevard was ruined. The roof collapsed and the garage door was folded. Debris also filled his property. On Saturday morning, he said he just feels overwhelmed.
Another homeowner on East Oakwood Drive near the intersection with South Pleasant Hill Boulevard said he was speechless when he saw the damage to his property. Two of his vehicles were totaled and the roof of his bard was torn apart and covering his property, along with other debris.
He said, “I’ve worked hard my whole life and the little that I had was gone within minutes.”
Norelies and Hilsenbeck live at the Pleasant Valley Mobile Park on Parkridge Avenue.
“I didn’t think I was going to come out to the devastation that I did. I thought it was just wind, but it was pretty scary,” said Norelies.
The investor of the Pleasant Valley Mobile Park flew to Des Moines Sunday morning. He said only one mobile home seemed to have been taken off of its foundation, but the park was covered in debris.
Severe tornado damage was spread from the land between Parkridge Avenue and East Oakwood Drive to Linden Boulevard. Part of this region includes the Oakwood Cemetery, where a massive tree fell over.
Hilsenbeck said “It was just really sad because this is our cemetery. We walk through here all the time and it’s just destroyed.”
Despite the destruction, residents started coming together as soon as the tornado subsided. People posted on Facebook asking who needed help and the community got to work.
Geiger said 30 people came to his home in the early hours of Saturday morning to help clear off his property of the eight fallen trees. Noah Altman, a Des Moines resident, was one of these people.
“I figured I would come out and help and see what we can do to help him out. He runs the Church right up the road and we go there and it’s a great little community, so we figured we’d come out and help him,” said Altman.
All residents said seeing the community come together like this was not a surprise.
Norelies said, “Eastside comes together. Everybody comes together at a time of tragedy, but we do come together and it’s the best thing in the whole world to see everybody, no matter what time, where, what condition we’re out, in the neighborhood making sure everybody is safe, helping everybody and it’s amazing.”
The city described Pleasant Hill as a “community of one” because of the teamwork and care displayed during a difficult time.
Chief Xayavong said, “That’s one good thing about the city of Pleasant Hill. We all come together to help each other.”
She also said that the city wouldn’t be this far along in cleanup if it wasn’t for the fast action of several other first responders and the Mid-American Energy Company.
At the height of the storm, 10,000 customers were without power on Friday night. That number dropped to 390 on Saturday, and on Sunday only 1 customer is without electricity in Pleasant Hill.
Pleasant Hill Public Works and Polk County Public Works will work together to collect debris starting next week. The city said debris should be cut to the length of 6 feet and placed between the sidewalk and curb, parallel to the street.
While the city said they aren’t aware of anyone who needs shelter, they’re urging residents to call 211 if they need help.