OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) — Severe storms with strong winds swept through the Plains on Friday, forcing swimmers practicing for U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha to flee pools and run for cover, killing two people in Iowa and knocking out power to thousands.
Officials at the Qwest Center near downtown Omaha closed the building 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. The storm’s winds may have reached 100 mph in some areas, meteorologist Bryon Miller said.
An eight-day meet to decide the U.S. Olympic swimming team opens Sunday. Al Berndt, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said the damage appeared to be reparable and probably wouldn’t halt the swim trials.
Across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, two 18-year-old men died when a tree fell on the car they were in while they were at a friend’s house, said Police Sgt. Jason Bailey. Authorities used a backhoe to free a 15-year-old girl trapped in the back seat.
Damage reports in the region included toppled trees and power lines, and hail the size of baseballs. Flash flood watches were issued across Iowa, where flooding has been a problem in recent weeks. Watch how horizontal hail hit TV station
Berndt said no serious injuries were immediately reported in Omaha, but there were reports of a few house fires caused by lightning.
Hundreds of people had gathered for a 6 p.m. outdoor concert and for an arts festival in Omaha. Booths flipped over, and awnings and other covers were whipped away by strong winds.
The outdoor concert and fireworks at Memorial Park were canceled.
A spokesman for the Omaha Public Power District said that more than a third of its customers were without power. The district serves 330,000 customers.
There were widespread power failures in Council Bluffs, and Bailey said the police department was on auxiliary power.
The Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves the Omaha area, lost power, said Bryan Cook, duty officer for Nebraska Emergency Management.
Untreated wastewater was being discharged into the Missouri River, said Joe Gudenrath, spokesman for Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey. City officials told people to avoid wading or swimming in the water in the stretch of the river that passes by Omaha, and several miles downstream.
Outside the Qwest Center, chunks of what appeared to be material from the building were scattered about.
Phelps and his Club Wolverine teammates were walking from their hotel to the arena for afternoon practice when tornado sirens sounded, said two-time Olympian Erik Vendt, Phelps’ roommate during the meet.
Really ominous, that’s for sure, Vendt said.
Phelps’ mother, Debbie, was moved to the bottom floor of a nearby hotel where many of the swimmers are staying, he said.
After the storm passed, the Qwest Center was cleared, and swimmers headed outside to snap pictures of sheet metal and other material that had been blown around.
The arena’s closure had Jack Bauerle, coach of the U.S. women’s Olympic team, trying to arrange for another pool to practice in.
It’s an auspicious start, but everyone can adjust, he said. It’s no big deal, but at least it’s our job to tell them it’s no big deal. It’s just a change in plans.
Omaha police said streets were becoming clogged with traffic Friday evening because lanes were blocked by debris. Traffic lights were out throughout the city.
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Nadal completed a 7-6 6-2 6-3 win in the gathering gloom on Saturday as he stayed on course for his second grand slam in a row having triumphed at the French Open earlier this month.
The midfielder missed training in Vienna on Saturday to receive treatment at the team hotel.
