05/17/99- Updated 11:49 AM ET
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Iowa hammered by tornadoes, floods

                 LOGAN, Iowa - Tornadoes roared through west-central Iowa, killing two,
                 injuring at least 16 and causing damage in at least four counties.

                 The tornadoes hit near Logan in western Iowa on Sunday. The storm moved
                 east across the state, dropping golf-ball-size hail and up to 8 inches of rain.
                 Already-swollen rivers and streams burst their banks, spreading over the
                 saturated ground.

                 Initial reports from Harrison County said the two tornado victims died when
                 some farm equipment hit their car, but Sheriff Terry Baxter said today he's not
                 sure what happened.

                 He said it was unclear if they were killed by storm debris or by a traffic
                 accident as a group of people from a high school graduation party in Logan
                 fled the tornado in two vehicles.

                 "They thought they'd be safer in another residence, but the storm was coming
                 too quick," Baxter said. He said one car was following the other when the first
                 one stopped and was hit from behind by the second one.

                 "They see the storm coming and drove into a ditch and exited the vehicle,"
                 Baxter said. "We're trying to determine if the accident was an accident from
                 the collision or was caused by debris that was storm related."

                 The names of the two victims had not been released early today.

                 The sheriff said 16 to 20 people were injured in the storm and were taken to
                 hospitals. Of those, four were in critical condition.

                 Heavy farm machines were scattered about like toys and galvanized steel corn
                 bins were left crumpled like used tissues.

                 "As of this morning, we don't have anyone missing. That's a good sign,"
                 Baxter said. "I want to see how far this tornado went. I think we have 4 to 5
                 miles of destruction."

                 A tornado damaged at least 10 farms in Crawford County, but no injuries
                 were reported.

                 The storm system also caused flash flooding overnight in eastern Iowa,
                 washing out roads and bridges in Buchanan County and closing a highway in
                 Fairbank.

                 At least 12 homes had to be evacuated and 10,000 customers lost power in
                 southern Wisconsin as the storms went through there.

                 In Muskogee County, Okla., severe thunderstorms with wind up to 70 mph
                 wrecked 11 mobile homes and damaged others early today and left three
                 people with minor injuries, county officials said.

                 A school bus in Wainwright also was destroyed. "The roof of a house went
                 right through it," said Tommy Ragland, assistant director for Muskogee
                 County Emergency Management.

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