Buena Vista County avoids tornadoes, storm leaves damage and siren trouble

Buena Vista County dodged the tornadoes that struck nearby Cherokee County, but the storm still exposed how quickly a close call can become a test of local readiness. By Monday, the county was dealing with downed tree limbs, a siren failure in Rembrandt and cleanup along Lakeshore Drive after winds and rain pushed the area into emergency mode.

Aimee Barritt, Buena Vista County’s emergency manager, said no tornadoes were confirmed in the county even as a severe thunderstorm warning sent sirens sounding around 8:20 p.m. Sunday, when winds were expected to reach 80 mph. The warning came as a regional storm system swept across northwest Iowa with damaging wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph and a few gusts approaching 90 mph, according to the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls. The weather service said winds up to 82 mph were reported in the broader event, which also disrupted graduation ceremonies and other celebrations across the region.

The worst of the tornado threat landed just to the east. Cherokee County Sheriff Derek Scott said there were four confirmed tornadoes Sunday night, one near Aurelia, one south of Marcus and two near Quimby. Cherokee County Emergency Manager Justin Pritts said damage was especially apparent south of Cleghorn, where strong winds damaged farm buildings and machine sheds. He said there were no reported injuries or mass displacement at that point, but a structural fire near Quimby was believed to be storm-related and was a total loss.

In Buena Vista County, the damage was less severe but still practical and visible. About 1.5 inches of rain fell in the Storm Lake area, and a pontoon boat on the north shore of Storm Lake was blown upside down into the water. Lakeshore Drive had to be closed briefly while a crane removed the boat and its lift. Residents also saw a major tree limb come down at Lake Creek, even though county officials had not found reported building damage by Monday.

The storm also revealed a warning problem in Rembrandt. One of the town’s sirens did not function and was later determined to be unrepairable. Until a new siren is installed, Buena Vista County Emergency Management said the fire department will drive the streets to warn residents if a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm with winds over 80 mph is issued.

That fallback underscores the broader burden on county emergency systems. Buena Vista County Emergency Management oversees the county’s All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan, Recovery Plan, Mitigation Plan and Strategic Plan for Emergency Services, and it also sponsors training for responders, partner agencies and the public. After the April 2025 straight-line windstorm Barritt described as one of the most severe in decades, and a July 2025 derecho that triggered Storm Lake sirens and caused major damage and outages, Sunday night offered another reminder: in Buena Vista County, preparedness is measured not just by whether a tornado hits, but by whether warning systems, cleanup crews and public safety plans hold up when the weather turns fast.