Tornado tears through Nebraska, causing severe damage in Omaha suburbs

A tornado has plowed through the suburbs of Omaha, Nebraska, destroying homes and businesses as it tore through miles of farmland and into subdivisions

OMAHA, Neb.– A tornado ripped through the outskirts of Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon, demolishing homes as it tore through miles of farmland and into subdivisions. It is not yet clear whether anyone was injured or killed in the storm.

Multiple tornadoes were reported in Nebraska, but the most destructive storm moved from a largely rural area to the suburbs northwest of Omaha, a city of 485,000.

Photos on social media showed badly damaged homes and shredded trees. Video showed homes with roofs stripped of shingles in a rural area near Omaha. Police blocked roads in the area.

Few details were immediately available. Nebraska Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Katrina Sperl said the damage is only now being reported.

The Weather Service also issued tornado watches in parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. And forecasters warned that large hail and damaging winds were possible.

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Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas.