Drone photos and video show flattened homes after deadly Winterset, Pleasant Hill tornadoes
Editor's note: The Register is bringing back these stories around the anniversary of the Winterset tornado that killed six people on March 5, 2022.
Eight members of one family huddled in a pantry as a tornado ripped apart the rural timberland south of Winterset Saturday afternoon. Only four of those family members survived.
Drone photos and videos taken by the Des Moines Register visuals staff Monday show the flattened homes, flipped cars and broken trees.
The National Weather Service gave the tornado that struck Winterset a preliminary rating of EF-4 on the six-level (EF0-EF5) Enhanced Fujita scale. That marks the first tornado of that intensity in the state since October 2013.
The tornado touched down southwest of Winterset at 4:26 p.m. and remained on the ground for more than 90 minutes.
More: The deadly Winterset tornado traveled nearly 70 miles, reaching 170 mph winds, forecasters say
Pleasant Hill tornado damage from the air
Severe weather Saturday also damaged homes and trees in Pleasant Hill, a suburb of Des Moines.
Find more coverage of the tornado and victims at the Des Moines Register:
The story of one family: 8 huddled in a pantry as a tornado approached. Only 4 survived.
Chariton victim: Authorities identify Lucas County man killed in Iowa tornado
7 deaths: Here are the names of the victims who died in the Iowa tornado that hit Winterset, Iowa
More: Computer glitch delayed National Weather Service warnings before Winterset tornado
Damage: See photos and videos of the damage from Saturday's deadly tornado in Iowa
Helping: Winterset basketball players help clean up tornado damage days before state tournament game
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Winterset, Iowa tornado damage seen in drone footage
