1 person dead, 16 critically hurt after tornadoes sweep through northeast Nebraska

6/16/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Severe-Weather-99

    Hail is gathered by Evrett Lunquist of Common Good Farm which was damaged in a storm Monday, June 16, 2014, in Raymond, Neb. (AP Photo/The Journal-Star, Dan Little)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • Onlookers standing at the Sgt. Floyd Monument in Sioux City, Iowa, watch as a storm cell passes over the city today.
    Onlookers standing at the Sgt. Floyd Monument in Sioux City, Iowa, watch as a storm cell passes over the city today.

    NORFOLK, Neb. — A hospital spokeswoman says at least one person is dead and 16 others are in critical condition after two massive tornadoes swept through northeast Nebraska.

    Jodi Richey of Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk says the victims were brought into the hospital after at least one of the twisters devastated Pilger. The town of about 350 people is about 100 miles northwest of Omaha.

    Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt says at least one of the tornadoes destroyed more than half of Pilger.

    The National Weather Service says the tornadoes were about a mile apart. Meteorologists have also been tracking a massive tornado near the town of Burwell, in central Nebraska.