Lancaster County Sheriff’s Captain John Vik says Friday afternoon’s tornado that heavily damaged Garner Industries near 98th and Highway 6 was some of the worst he’s seen in several years. Vik says deputies and several other emergency response agencies were on the scene moments after the tornado tore through the building around 3:00.
“It was very devastating damage that we found upon arrival,” Vik says. “There were cars laying in the street and fields outside the business. There were power lines down and even some roofing supports we were trying to move off the road so we could get some vehicles in there.”
Vik says 70 people were inside the business when the tornado hit. Three employees were taken to area hospitals with only minor injuries. Vik says the Nebraska Department of Transportation worked with the Lancaster County Engineering Office to get Highway 6 open back open for football traffic on Saturday morning.
Vik also says nine homes in the Waverly area were also damaged to some degree by the tornado. There were no reports of any injuries to residents in those homes. Several train cars were also blown off the tracks in Waverly.