One dead and thousands without power as severe storms impact Nebraska.

Severe thunderstorms swept through eastern Nebraska over the weekend, resulting in one fatality and leaving another individual with critical injuries. According to authorities, violent weather induced wind gusts reaching up to 90 miles per hour, affecting multiple communities across the region.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning at Two Rivers State Park, situated approximately five miles west of Omaha. A substantial tree succumbed to the intense winds, collapsing onto a vehicle occupied by two individuals. This incident was confirmed by the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department, which posted updates on social media regarding the ongoing situation.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find that a woman inside the vehicle had suffered significant injuries and was pronounced dead at the location. A man, also inside the vehicle, sustained life-threatening injuries and was subsequently transported to a local hospital for urgent medical care. Rescue efforts proved challenging, as it took about 90 minutes for crews to extricate the man from the wreckage due to the size of the fallen tree.

As of Sunday, the identities of both victims remain undisclosed. The storms did not only leave personal casualties; they also wreaked havoc on infrastructure. Two state prison facilities located approximately 35 miles southwest in Lincoln sustained damage, resulting in the dislocation of 387 inmates. However, state officials reported that all staff and inmates were accounted for after the storm.

In the aftermath of the severe weather, nearly 20,000 residents in Nebraska were reported to be without power. The outages were primarily linked to fallen trees that had downed power lines across various areas. The most significant wind gusts were documented at Lincoln’s airport and near Fairmont, both registering 91 miles per hour. Additional strong gusts were recorded at Burr Oak and Superior, reaching 90 miles per hour on Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service continues to monitor the situation, advising residents to remain cautious in light of ongoing weather disturbances. Cleanup efforts are underway to address the widespread wind damage inflicted throughout the state, as communities strive to regain normalcy following this severe storm event.

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