A “debris ball” — the most sobering radar signature a meteorologist can see — emerged on radar as the tornado tracked through the downtown area. This was the result of debris being thrown more than two miles into the air, tricking the radar into plotting high values. The jagged, unusual shape of the objects swirling around in the funnel showed up as a value of “poor correlation,” suggesting jagged materials unlike rain or hail.<doc-sep>Two swirling winds have been seen near the town top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Vehicles are missing, buildings have been torn apart, and power lines have been destroyed in Marshalltown, however, there are no reports of any casualties so far. Witnesses took to social media to share images and video of the destructive weather event. Multiple videos show that there were two swirling winds circling the city. It is thought the roof of the town’s courthouse building has been ripped off by the terrifying winds. Another video shows the storm quickly heading towards the town of 27,000. Not all residents will have escaped the damage, with another circulating video proving houses have been wrecked by the swirling winds. The roof of the courthouse has been ripped off Some cars did seem to be withstanding the rough weather, however, with one video shot in a car park showing several 4x4as undamaged. Residents shared their well wishes with one another online after being captured in the storm. One person said: “Prayers for our friends in Marshalltown, Iowa after a tornado struck downtown there today. Debris from houses has been seen flying across the sky Weather: Met Office issue warning ahead of HURRICANE CHRIS Cars in a parking lot seemed to be withstanding the damage<doc-sep>A derecho wind storm can sometimes be more powerful than a tornado. The Vortex SE team deploys a StickNet during a Tornado Chase in Tennessee. (CNN) — Several tornadoes tore through Iowa, overturning cars, flattening homes and leaving people injured. There were 27 reports of tornadoes in the state Thursday, CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said. The exact number will be released by the National Weather Service when it surveys the damage. One reported tornado hit a company in Pella town, about 40 miles from Des Moines, sending at least seven people from Vermeer Corporation to hospital with injuries. The company, which manufactures industrial and agricultural equipment, had major damage, said Vermeer CEO Jason Andringa . Image of man sitting in wreckage captures heartbreak after tornadoes Ryan Dunn Multiple tornadoes were reported across Iowa Thursday. Several others injured in Marshalltown In Marshalltown, a town of about 27,000 people about an hour northeast of Des Moines, 10 people suffered injuries after a tornado struck the area. None of the patients are in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Laura Rainey said. Charlie Neibergall/AP Several buildings in Marshalltown were damaged. Julie Owen from Des Moines was visiting her daughter in Marshalltown when the tornado hit. She was not in the area where the tornado hit, but went into town to help pick up her granddaughters from day camp. “It was bad. I’ve seen a lot of tornado stuff (in the past),” she said. “It’s not like the whole town is destroyed, but downtown, a city of this size, it was something else.” Photos taken by Billie Blocker Rice show damage to buildings on the north side of town. “Devastated to see the destruction from today’s severe storms & tornadoes. Praying for all Iowans impacted & for the emergency management crews responding tonight,” Gov. Kim Reynolds tweeted Thursday. Bondurant homes damaged Billie Blocker Rice Damage from a tornado that hit Marshalltown, Iowa on Thursday, June 19. Trees have crashed down into roads, houses are missing many shingles, a large industrial building is missing sections of a wall and debris is littered over vehicles in the parking lot. “Everyone is advised to stay away from downtown Marshalltown until further notice,” City Administrator Jessica Kinser said in a statement. “We also ask that people stay off cell lines unless necessary, to allow for emergency phone traffic.” Another tornado damaged houses in Bondurant, about 15 miles from Des Moines, according to CNN affiliate WOI. CNN’s Hollie Silverman, Sheena Jones, Abbie Lane and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox Around 27,000 people live in the town. But there were reports of several tornados in the area about an hour northeast of Des Moines. There were no immediate reports of injuries, according to the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Vehicles are missing, overturned, tops of buildings are gone and trees and power lines are down. Another said: “I’m praying for you Marshalltown! Hope everyone is alright.” One person said: “Prayers for our friends in Marshalltown, Iowa after a tornado struck downtown there today.” People took to social media to post photos and video, which show the extent of the damage. Footage shows the town’s courthouse roof being ripped off. Photos show the extent of the devastation And a third added: “Sending all my love and prayers to my hometown of Marshalltown Iowa. “They just got hit by a massive tornado and I'm hearing reports of catastrophic damage. “Lots of friends and family still in the area. Hope you're all safe.” Marshaltown officials have declared a state of emergency, according to City Administrator Jessica Kinser. She said in a statement: "Everyone is advised to stay away from downtown Marshalltown until further notice. "We also ask that people stay off cell lines unless necessary, to allow for emergency phone traffic." Many people in the town were without power and Alliant Energy reported 6,690 homes and businesses were without electricity. Marshalltown is 60miles northeast of Des Moines and around 130 miles south of the Minnesota border. A small town called Pella, about 50miles south of Marshalltown, was also hit by a tornado which produced catastrophic damage. More to follow…