MAPLETON TORNADO HIT 1 YEAR AGO

A TORNADO ONE YEAR AGO TODAY BROUGHT SIOUXLANDERS AND IOWANS TOGETHER TO REBUILD THE TOWN OF MAPLETON.

THE TWISTER DAMAGED OR DESTROYED MORE THAN 140 HOMES, INJURED A DOZEN PEOPLE, YET THERE WERE NO FATALITIES.

IT DID SOME DAMAGE TO MAPLE VALLEY ANTHON OTO'S ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL BUILDINGAS WELL, BUT THANKS TO VOLUNTEER RESPONSE, THE SCHOOL WASN'T CLOSED FOR LONG.

THE TORNADO HAD WINDS IN EXCESS OF 130 MILES-PER-HOUR AND MEASURED THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE ACROSS AT ONE POINT AFTER IT LEFT A PATH OF DESTRUCTION THREE AND A HALF MILES LONG.