Storms sweep plains, 2 die

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-29  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SEVERE storms with strong winds have swept through the US Great Plains, killing two people in Iowa, forcing swimmers practicing for US Olympic trials in Omaha to flee pools and run for cover and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Officials at the Qwest Center near downtown Omaha closed the building on Friday to examine it after superstar swimmer Michael Phelps and hundreds of other athletes were herded into hallways because of a tornado warning.

Water poured into the building, down arena steps and onto the deck of the competition pool during the storm. Winds may have reached 160kph in some areas, said meteorologist Bryon Miller.

An eight-day meet to decide the US Olympic swimming team is scheduled to open on Sunday. Al Berndt, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said the damage appeared to be repairable and probably wouldn't halt the swim trials.

Across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, two people died when a tree fell on the car they were in, said Police Sgt Jason Bailey.

Damage reports in the region, in which hail the size of baseballs fell, included toppled trees and power lines. Flash flood watches were issued across recently flood-prone Iowa. In Detroit, about 3.8cm of rain fell on the downtown area during the evening rush hour, making freeways and some surface streets impassable.

Hundreds of people had gathered for a 6pm outdoor concert and an arts festival in downtown Omaha but booths flipped over and awnings and other covers were whipped away by strong winds. The concert and fireworks were canceled.

A spokesman for the Omaha Public Power District said more than a third of its customers in a district serving 330,000 were without power. There were widespread power failures in Council Bluffs.

Outside the Qwest Center, chunks of what appeared to be material from the building were scattered about.