UPDATE: Western Wisconsin tornado rated EF-2 kills 46-year-old man, injures 25

 

UPDATE:

Barron County Sheriff, Chris Fitzgerald, gave updated wreckage numbers on Wednesday.

Of the 55 trailers in the Prairie Lakes Estates Mobile Home Park, 38 are destroyed.

The tornado took one life, 45-year-old Eric Gavin. Although, one person was upgraded to serious condition Wednesday morning. He was flown out after being injured in the trailer park.

The sheriff also said over 200 first responders rushed to the devastation after the torando hit around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Ryan Anderson was in the park when the tornado hit.

"We were just sitting here watching the storm change colors and the power went out," said Anderson.

Anderson didn't know 45-year-old Gavin but says his brother-in-law knew him. 

Without a shelter at the Prairie Lakes Estates Mobile Home Park, residents who were home had to find the best shelter inside the trailer.

Anderson ran to the hallway with his mother-in-law. His wife and son and their dog hid under the kitchen table.

"Trying to protect my mom, and [I] waited for the noise and the wind to die down before I looked up. So it was just hang on, enjoy the ride," said Anderson.

If you would like to help, the official organization accepting monetary donations, according to the Barron County Sheriff's Department is Mosaic Telecom. They are taking cash and check donations at their Cameron location.

As for donating goods, they will be accepted starting 9 a.m. Sunday morning at the Mosaic Telecom Cameron location.

Volunteers are needed starting Friday morning. At 8 a.m. the volunteer reception center will open at the St. Peter Catholic Church in Cameron.If you would like to help, the official organization accepting monetary donations, according to the Barron County Sheriff's Department is Mosaic Telecom. They are taking cash and check donations at their Cameron location.

As for donating goods, they will be accepted starting 9 a.m. Sunday morning at the Mosaic Telecom Cameron location.

Volunteers are needed starting Friday morning. At 8 a.m. the volunteer reception center will open at the St. Peter Catholic Church in Cameron.

UPDATE: 

The National Weather Service says its preliminary damage rating for a tornado that destroyed a trailer park and killed a man in northwestern Wisconsin is a strong EF2.

The enhanced F-scale runs from EF0 to EF5. An EF2 or higher is considered a significant tornado.

The weather service says the twister packed winds of 120 to 130 mph, or even slightly stronger, when it hit the park near Chetek on Tuesday evening.

The length of its path is still being determined.The National Weather Service says its preliminary damage rating for a tornado that destroyed a trailer park and killed a man in northwestern Wisconsin is a strong EF2.

The enhanced F-scale runs from EF0 to EF5. An EF2 or higher is considered a significant tornado.

The weather service says the twister packed winds of 120 to 130 mph, or even slightly stronger, when it hit the park near Chetek on Tuesday evening.

The length of its path is still being determined.

Authorities say at least one person died and an estimated 25 others were injured when a tornado struck a mobile home park near Chetek in western Wisconsin Tuesday evening.

The mobile home park contained 50 to 60 trailers and several of them are completely destroyed. 17 people were transported from the scene to area hospitals and about five to ten more people had minor injuries and refused treatment. The man who died in the tornado has been identified as a 46-year-old man named Eric Gavin.

Gavin was a resident of the trailer which is a total loss. He was found outside of his trailer but it is unknown if he was thrown out of it or was standing outside of the trailer when the tornado hit. Authorities do not know if he lives alone, but can confirm he was alone at the time of the tornado.

Authorities say about 40 people are displaced because of the storm and the Salvation Army and American Red Cross have been deployed to the area. six to eight trailers suffered minor damage and 15 trailers were a total loss.

There is no tornado shelter in the trailer park. Tornado sirens did go off about 25 minutes before the tornado hit.

The National Weather Service reported a tornado touchdown in the area just after 5:30 PM Tuesday.

Chetek Mayor Jeff Martin told a Minneapolis TV station that several turkey barns in the area were also hit hard.

Several tornado warnings were issued as severe thunderstorms moved east across western Wisconsin and northern Wisconsin as the night went on.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will tour the damage Wednesday afternoon around 3:20 PM.

CBS 58 has a crew on the way to the damaged area and will bring you more information on CBS 58 News.