Storms batter crops, damage homes in eastern Iowa

Tuesday, a lone severe thunderstorm moved through eastern Iowa. While the rain was greatly appreciated in the drought-stricken part of the state, the severe weather accompanying the rain caused significant issues. In just a few minutes, months of farm work was damaged.

“Just amazing how fast," said Urbana farmer Brad Zieser. "You know you work your butt off and how fast it’s taken away from ya. At least most of it anyways.”

A powerful thunderstorm Tuesday in northern Benton and Linn County produced golf-ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to an estimated 60mph.

The combination of wind and hail shredded Zieser’s corn and soybean crop in Urbana. All 80 acres were impacted by the storm.

This after dealing with a drought that continues to worsen.

“Finally getting some rain, and things start looking a little better," Zieser said. "Then mother nature hits us with this blow.”

Whether or not the crop can recover is still an unknown at this point.

“We’re hoping," Zieser said. "We still have a lot of growing season left. I’m not sure, I have not personally seen damage like this in person.”

The hail left a path of destruction to farm fields near Urbana all the way to Walker, about four miles to the east.

There residents spent Wednesday cleaning up and assessing the damage.

“The west side of the house, it’s pretty much all the siding is junk," said Walker resident Randy Benesch. "It destroyed it. Kind of have to wait and see what insurance will do.”

Benesch's home is one of the hardest-hit homes in the town. Just up the street Kay Johnson recorded the storm as it hit. Johnson also has siding damage.

“It sounded like everybody was hitting golf balls at our house repeatedly," Johnson said. "I have never heard anything like it.”

While homeowners plan to fix windows, siding and roofing, all farmers can do is wait and see if the crop will grow back. If not, insurance is the next step. All the while dealing with the ongoing drought and a stormy forecast ahead.

“We’re at the mercy of mother nature, we’ll deal with whatever punches she throws," Zieser said. "That’s just the way it is.”