Benton, Tama Counties Still Cleaning up from July 11 Storm

Toppled trees litter Evergreen Cemetery Friday, July 22, 2011 in Vinton. (Mark Benischek/ SourceMedia Group News)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jul 24, 2011 at 5:22 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2011 at 5:22 PM CDT

TOLEDO, Iowa (AP) — Crews continue to clear damage from strong winds that swept through east-central Iowa earlier this month.

Benton County emergency management coordinator Scott Hansen told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that crews have been clearing debris since the July 11 storm to but much work remains. Only 40 percent of the streets in Vinton are clear.

Hansen also says damage to government and public buildings in Vinton and Garrison has reached at least $4.5 million and is expected to grow.

Tama County was also hit hard by the storm. Emergency management coordinator Ryan Currens says the affected area includes about 520 square miles.

Currens says he's gotten reports from the more 200 Tama County residents who either don't have insurance or don't have enough to cover all the damage their homes sustained.