Storm pummels Mankato
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August 20, 2020
Kathy Prell-Freeman, Mankato, took this picture of hail stones Friday evening. Driven by high winds, the hail broke out windows of both vehicles and buildings, damaged roofs and stripped vegetation. The National Weather Bureau recommends pictures of hail stones be taken with a familiar object like a ruler so the size of the stones is easily identified. This ruler seems to add a touch of humor to the devastation.
Late Friday brought a storm to Jewell County that left damage in its wake. With high winds and hail, vehicles and buildings received major damage. Windows on the north side of buildings were broken and vehicles were pummelled with large hail.
Before the wind and hail, phones went off with an emergency weather alert stating the area was under a tornado warning. Residents were seen getting into their vehicles and driving to their homes and to city hall to wait out the storm. After the storm passed, people went outside to assess the damage they experienced. Residents were soon on their phones reporting their damage, while others measured the hail on the ground. Diameters were between 2.5 and 4 inches.
The hail broke all of the neon tubes on the marquee sign and the Indian sign at the UTE theater.
Saturday brought roofing and construction companies to town providing quotes for those who experienced home damage. Mankato residents were outside placing plastic over the windows broken on their houses. At Mankato Professional Pharmacy, a work crew placed plywood over the upper windows which had been damaged by the storm.
The First Baptist Church received damage to the stained glass windows. The windows were covered with plastic. Leaves littered the streets and lawns. Much of Saturday was devoted to residents cleaning up after the storm.
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