Nebraska tornadoes: One dead; hospital braces for more patients

Emergency crews and medical staff in Nebraska expected to be working through the evening after tornadoes ripped through the northeast part of the state late Monday afternoon, killing one and injuring more than 20.

A large tornado had caused “significant damage” near Stanton, the Weather Channel reported on its Twitter feed. The National Weather Service reported several homes had been destroyed in Pilger.

Faith Regional Health Services facility in Norfolk, Neb., received 17 patients with injuries directly related to the tornado, including the patient who died, officials said at an 8 p.m. news update.

An unspecified number of people required surgery while others were treated and released, officials said.

All Faith Regional Health Services staff was on standby for the night while emergency crews continued to search through piles of rubble for survivors.

A tornado watch remained in place until early Tuesday morning.

In addition to patients being treated at Faith Regional, there were reports from other Nebraska hospitals of tornado victims. Shortly after the tornadoes struck, Providence Medical Center in Wayne said it had two patients in stable condition, reportedly with laceration injuries, with a third patient on the way. Pender Community Hospital said it had three patients in noncritical condition.

It was unclear when the hospitals would provide another update.

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