Tornado Hits Boy Scouts in Iowa

[dillybar]

Tornado Kills 4 at Boy Scout Camp in Iowa

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

At least four Boy Scouts are dead and others reportedly are trapped Wednesday night after a tornado struck a camp in western Iowa, state emergency management officials said.


The storm also injured at least 40 people at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, which is located one hour north of Omaha, Neb. The Associated Press reports the scouts there are from 13 to 18 years old.
A search and rescue team has been deployed to the camp, which was covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m., said Julie Tack, spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security.
The latest tragedy comes amid an ongoing battle in Iowa and other parts of the Midwest against severe weather that has caused flooding in many communities. The tornado that hit the camp was one of more than 30 reported twisters related to the storm system now sweeping across the region, according to a FOX News meteorologist.
Arli Hasbrouck, a spokeswoman for the Boy Scouts of America's Mid-American Council in Omaha, told the Des Moines Register that there were about 100 youths at the Little Sioux camp for a weeklong leadership training program called Pontak Pride, which began Sunday.

"We've got lots of Scouters on their way to help." Hasbrouck told the Des Moines Register.
The Associated Press reported that there also were 25 staff members at the camp.
Molly Montag of the Sioux City Journal told FOX News that state police instructed parents to meet their children at a local community center.
"Ambulances are heading toward the camp," Montag said. "Helicopters are flying over.”

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365782,00.html

[tidechick]

I watched this story on the news and it is just heart breaking. My prayers are with all the Families that have been affected by this.

[gram]

Prayers go out to the families of these Boy Scouts the was affected.

[Krystilina]

They just had some of the survivors on Larry King. So sad. God bless all affected by this tragedy.

[Kagan]

I heard this story on the radio this morning. It sounded as if the Scout Leader reacted as quickly as he could and probably saved the lives of the rest of the troop. Indications are that this storm came out of nowhere.

My prayers are with the families.

[SallyM]

God bless the victims families and everyone invloved! I can not imagine what they are all going through. The young men that came to the aid of their fellow scouts should be given much praise! May God give them all the strength and courage to face the coming days.