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4 dead, 40 hurt as tornado hits Boy Scout camp

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By HENRY C. JACKSON / The Associated Press

Wednesday, Jun 11, 2008 - 10:20:48 pm CDT



DES MOINES, Iowa — A spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security said at least four people were killed and 40 injured Wednesday evening when a tornado struck a western Iowa Boy Scout camp.

Julie Tack, a spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security, said a search and rescue team had been deployed to search for more victims at the camp, near Little Sioux in Harrison County. She said the camp was covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m.

The four killed and 40 injured were among 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp when the tornado struck. The campers were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp.

“They were considered some of the best in the area,’’ Tack said.

At least 40 people who were injured in the storm were being taken to area hospitals.

David Hunt, chairman of the Mid-America Boy Scout Council’s Goldenrod District, which covers several eastern Nebraska counties, said he didn’t know specifically where the boys were from but thoughts they would have come from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The 1,800 acre ranch is about 15 minutes east of Interstate 29, about 40 miles north of Omaha, Neb. Its amenities include hiking trails through narrow valleys and over steep hills, a 15-acre lake and a rifle range.

The tornado touched down as Iowa’s eastern half grappled with flooding in several of its major cities. The storm threatened to stretch Iowa’s emergency response teams even further.

Tack said officials were confident that the state’s emergency response teams could handle the crisis because western Iowa had been largely unaffected by the recent flooding.

Homeland security officials were coordinating with local authorities, she said. She said it was an ongoing search and rescue mission and that it was possible some might be trapped under debris at the camp.

“We are still receiving information and we’re processing it as we recieve it,’’ she said.

Associated Press writers Timberly Ross and Anna Jo Bratton in Omaha contributed to this report.


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Vak wrote on June 11, 2008 8:43 pm:
" God be with all these people and their families at this time. "

 DWII wrote on June 11, 2008 9:02 pm:
" My thoughts are with the families of these children! "

 Mom of a scout wrote on June 11, 2008 9:17 pm:
" Our thoughts and prayers are with all the scouts and their families. What a terrible tragedy. "

 Eagle wrote on June 11, 2008 10:24 pm:
" Thoughts and Prayers are with these Scouts, their families and friends during this tragic time. Also for the emergency responders. God Bless! "

 ALM wrote on June 11, 2008 11:11 pm:
" This is awful! My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved. So sad. "

 Jordan wrote on June 12, 2008 12:14 am:
" As a long time scout, my heart bleeds for all of the families and troops that were touched by this. This is a truely traumatic event for Boy Scouts of America, my prayer is that we don't let events like this reflect onto the program.
God Bless. "

 Eagle Scout MOM DAD POLAND ME wrote on June 12, 2008 12:40 am:
" Our thoughts and prayers are with the families with their Loss and injuries at the Boy Scout camp in IOWA GOD be with you all and give you all strengh.....Eagle Scout MOM & DAD Poland, ME "

 Nick wrote on June 12, 2008 2:31 am:
" I am a part o the scouting world, and I am so sad that this has happened. "

 Locke wrote on June 12, 2008 7:21 am:
" I hope all recover. However, it is time for camps like this one and Camp Cornhusker in Nebraska to think about having real shelters from storms. What would have happened if the campl had actually been full of campers instead of a limited number of scouts? I shudder thinking about what might have been. "

 eagle scout wrote on June 12, 2008 7:47 am:
" My thoughts and prayers are with all of these scouts and their familys. But I am kinda confused why they had no warning. Was there no weather radio, or radar to be seen or heard? I have been to 10-15 different scout camps and all of them had somebody watching a radar. At 8 o'clock in the morning we were in a tornando watch. a boy scouts motto is be "BE PREPARD" but it dosent seem like they were very prepared for a severe storm. "

 Rdan wrote on June 12, 2008 8:07 am:
" Everyone of these boys deserve medals for bravery. God Bless you boys. You are in my prayers. "

 Nina wrote on June 12, 2008 8:10 am:
" So tragic when young lives full of promise are cut short. We keep these families in our hearts and prayers. God bless all those who tried to help at the scene. That life is full of uncertainty is evident here. 'On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.' Hold fast to that truth while waiting to see those kids in heaven. Prayers that all the injured kids will be healed, and that all involved will recover from the trauma of it all. "

 Feeling Lucky wrote on June 12, 2008 8:42 am:
" This is a terrible tragedy and I hope everyone recovers as fully as possible. For those families who lost a child, my prayers and thoughts are with them. What makes me upset, however, is that the Boy Scout motto of "be prepared" was pretty much thrown out the window. There's no guarantee that a storm shelter of some sort would have saved any lives but without something of that nature (and it's not like tornadoes and severe weather are unexpected in this area), they really weren't prepared. When are these organizations going to realize that they are being penny-wise but pound foolish by not "being prepared?" "

 Eagle Scout mom of wrote on June 12, 2008 8:45 am:
" Thoughts and prayers to all those children and their families. I know they are supposed to be in the wilderness but it should be manditory that they have underground facilities. God bless them. "

 JPB wrote on June 12, 2008 8:47 am:
" This is a tragedy beyond words. God bless those boys and may they rest in peace in heaven.
May God comfort their families during their mourning. "

 Head for low ground wrote on June 12, 2008 9:08 am:
" I've been to this camp... and although the supervisors and boy scouts did things "by the/their book", they should have not saught shelter in the the buildings. The buildings are all in open flat areas on the hills and this is the worst place to go in the country for shelter from a tornado/straight line winds. I live on a farm and we all know that when you get caught out in the field (during the daylight obviously) and the tornado is ahead of the storm (such as this one) you can see it and you head for the lowest area of ground. This is usually a ditch, valley, etc on the eastern side of the slope.

I wish this was taught to more campers for everyone needs to be aware of this when there is not a concrete tornado shelter nearby. Especially during these summer months. Hiding in a fireplace was the fault of the camp supervisors, not the kids. It is not the winds of the tornado that kill you... it is what is blowing in the tornado and the force of things that come at you and on top of you. It is hindsight... but they would be alive today if they sought shelter in those deep valleys in that camp. "

 tif wrote on June 12, 2008 9:13 am:
" My heart goes out to all these families and friends. I will keep them all in my prayers!! "

 Low ground makes good point wrote on June 12, 2008 10:58 am:
" Thanks Low ground, I would have never known that. I wish more tips like yours were made aware to people who love the outdoors and could be caught in the same situation! "

 Soylent Green wrote on June 12, 2008 11:03 am:
" As sad as this incident was, do you people that are screaming "they have to have underground shelters" and "why weren't they better prepared?" honestly think that there should be a bunker for people to hide in every 25 feet in every bit of wilderness? Come on, get real! And just how big should this shelter be? There are times I run races in Wilderness Park and other remote areas that have several hundred participants. Should I expect one giant shelter that can hold us all or numerous smaller ones? What do i do if the giant one is farther away than I can get to in time? What if the smaller one can't hold me and the rest of the group that got there too late? As difficult as it may be for you to come to grips with this concept, "they" (that all encompassing someone) can not always be there to protect you and you are just going to have to fend for yourself! "

 rb wrote on June 12, 2008 11:52 am:
" Soylent Green - simmer down! I think what people mean is that at a campground that provides activities for children, especially in the midwest, there should be a better plan for bad weather. Perhaps low ground, maybe even an underground shelter, but something better than what the Iowa campground had. My prayers and thoughts are with the families. "

 Being Prepared doesnt mean having a crystal ball.... wrote on June 12, 2008 12:03 pm:
" Adults and children have been "Scouting" for years. How many times has something like this happened? I can't think of one. However, there is always a chance that SOMETHING will happen... mountain lion attacks? ... homicidal/suicidal parents or significan others? ...depressed college students in bell towers with a sniper rifle? (think Texas, 1963). We live in a world where terrible things can happen without warning. Please don't blame yourself, Scout Leaders. To the families: our deepest sympathies and prayers. "

 Nebraska Resident wrote on June 12, 2008 1:08 pm:
" What a horrible tragedy...that COULD HAVE been avoided! I feel terrible about the 4 fatalities, the injuries, and for the rest of the boys that will be haunted by this for the rest of their lives! My thoughts & prayers are with them & all of the families. The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared". I am absolutely DISGUSTED with the fact that with DAYS OF WARNING ahead of time from the National Weather Service regarding the high risk of severe weather, this trip went ahead as scheduled. Then to make things even worse, yesterday the specifics as to where the highest risk of severe storms would be was released by the NWS and yet they STAYED THERE knowing there were no basements? There are so many things wrong with this that it's sickening. 1st of all RESCHEDULE, Omaha and the surrounding area has had HOW MANY tornado warning within the last couple of weeks. 2nd of all the article states that they practiced where to go in case of tornado. So where did they go during practice? Did the leaders believe that laying on the floor is an acceptable & safe option when they are responsible for the LIVES of these kids? I mean what did they tell them during practice, hope you don't get sucked out? Come on. 3rd, as a parent I NEVER would have let my child go because I AM PREPARED and pay attention to severe weather reports. Why TAKE THE CHANCE?! The leaders & parents had ALL DAY YESTERDAY to leave/pick up their sons BEFORE the storm!!! Does this come down to an ego thing, like "We're Boy Scouts, if something does happen, we'll just ride it out!" This was a LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE for Pete's sake, where was the leadership BEFORE this all happened? Attending this wasn't life & death. However they MADE IT A LIFE & DEATH SITUATION by not providing leadership in cancelling the trip whether ahead of time or even cancelling it YESTERDAY MORNING. All the media can focus on is how the Boy Scouts are trained for first aid...fantastic. Are they TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS TOO? I think the entire Boy Scouts of America had better pray/think about this long & hard. If you're not going to provide acceptable tornado shelters (they had anywhere from 5-12 minutes to go into a shelter...had there been one) and competent leadership, then cancel the trip! I sincerely hope they take responsibility for their actions & very poor decisions. I hope they personally apologize to the families of the deceased. NEVER let this happen again! "

 Lincoln Mom wrote on June 12, 2008 1:58 pm:
" As one commenter mentioned, you can't protect everyone all of the time. That's why these things are called tragedies. Those scouts, if nothing else, proved the value of the program by aiding each other in a time of need. Undoubtedly, cooler heads prevailed. Kudos to the scouts who assisted others. Sympathies to the families of the scouts that parished. "

 Outside the Box wrote on June 12, 2008 2:35 pm:
" I agree with the idea raised by Soylent Green. While this is incredibly tragic, a shelter would not have helped the scouts on a hike. Severe weather causes unpredictable results upon man-made structures. These young lives could have just as easily have been taken if the same storm hit their families' homes. Unfortunately, tragic things happen for no good reason.

I am just thankful that the campers were scouts who had the knowledge and training necessary to know what to do and how to react. Many other groups of youths might not have fared as well in the same situation. These scouts, their parents and pack leaders should be commended for how they handled themselves. "

 Cub Scout Leader wrote on June 12, 2008 3:02 pm:
" From all the scouts in Pack 100, we pray for each and every family member and friend affected by this terrible event. We are taught each and every day to be prepared for anything that can happen - the good and the bad. No one can ever be truly prepare when Mother Nature is making an impact.

The boys in our group are deeply saddened by this tragedy and hope each of you can find peace and hope in the days and weeks to come.

Our hope is that the boys and leaders of the great community called Scouting find a way to learn from this incident and resolve to influence any changes needed to make this program better than it was yesterday.

For those individuals who believe more could have been done...I ask you each this...How many of you are out their making a difference in the lives of these children every day? Many adults dedicate themselves to the program, both with time and with dollars...Why don't you become one of those adults? "

 for shame wrote on June 12, 2008 3:11 pm:
" I am so ashamed of all the negativity that people feel that they have to express following a tragedy of this magnatitude. Please, scoutmasters, do not take these comments to heart. These people just like to say something just to say something and they don't realize what they are doing. Anyone who wishes to express concern for your welfare and extend sympathy for your loss should feel free to post comments here. Otherwise, please SHUT THE HECK UP! for pete's sake, yes this time it happened to be a Boy Scout camp. Next time it could be a church camp, a daycare, a hospital. What happened has nothing to do with negligence on anyone's part. It has to do with nature and the massive power that supercells have. It has to do with an act of God. It has to do with fate. Be thankful that it wasnt worse, not condemn them for the way it was. "

 The tornado wrote on June 12, 2008 4:11 pm:
" ... could be spotted for miles in the daylight hours (check the video). With how the camp is situated by being at the head of the bluffs on the iowa side, it was even easier for the scout leaders/scouts to see the predicament they were in. The tornado took the easiest path straight east up the road where the cabins were. All they had to do was not seek shelter in these "shanties" and head 100 yards to the south and take cover in the valleys that run north/south.

It is a common practice done by those out in rural areas (or live in a trailorhouse out in a rural area) to find a ditch that runs north/south when you have no basement to seek shelter. If they did this... they all would have been fine.

It was pretty much the perfect storm where a lack of knowledge of your enemy (in this case a tornado) and a lack of knowledge of your surroundings led to the worst decision and worst possible outcome. "

 so sad.... wrote on June 12, 2008 7:49 pm:
" My heart goes out to the families that lost their little boys. It is terrible that they had to leave this earth so young and early, but God saw that those boys were something special and he needed the help of those special boys in Heaven. "

 TWP wrote on June 12, 2008 9:21 pm:
" A tip of my cap to all of the experts on this message board that have taken this opportunity to share their infinite wisdom of how they would have saved not only all of the lives, but prevented any injuries to these boys. It must be a very special thing to never make a mistake,never to do something and later realize that there was a better way to do it. I wish I had such wisdom. Thanks for your "help" in comforting all those who have been affected by this tragedy. I hope none of you ever experience the loss of a child. I can think of no greater tragedy for a parent. Condolences to all involved. And commendations to those boys that did their very best to help the injured and keep the situation from being worse than it already was. May God comfort all of you. "

 C wrote on June 12, 2008 10:34 pm:
" I am so sorry for this great tragedy. I am sure the families of these victims are hurting, but know how much the leaders of these young men did everything humanly possible to get these boys to safety as quickly as possible.It's a sad day when there are young people taken from us by mother nature or any one/thing. I am sorry for our countries loss of possible great leaders for the future. "

 CJ wrote on June 13, 2008 9:30 am:
" I saw on cbs early show this morning that the boys that ran for a ditch rather than going to the shelter came out fine as the tornado went right over them. Just goes to show a structure is the worst place to take shelter when their is no lower level. "

 Imagine That wrote on June 13, 2008 10:05 am:
" First of all my heart goes out to the familys who suffered a loss and or injuries in this tradgedy.
And I would like to comment on the lack of sensitivity on behalf of the press and media the night and early morning this happened I felt while watching the coverage on T.V. that this seemed to be a contest for the media stations on who could get the names of the people who had been killed in this tradgedy first.They seemed to be hounding the local police and hospitals desperatly trying to be the first with the info.People come on now could you not just put up info that would help the situation and not be all about the first with the tragic details for a change. "

 Mary Lynn Hunt wrote on June 13, 2008 11:42 am:
" I am the mother of 4 Eagle Scouts who are grown men now. I am so sorry for the loss of Aaron Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Josh Fennen, Sam Thomsen, and Ben Petrzilka of Omaha. I pray the families can take comfort in knowing the boys were doing worthwile things in scouting. My heart goes
out to you. "

 Mary Lynn Hunt wrote on June 13, 2008 4:19 pm:
" I am the mother of 4 Eagle Scouts who are grown men now. I am so sorry for the loss of Aaron Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Josh Fennen, Sam Thomsen, and Ben Petrzilka of Omaha. I pray the families can take comfort in knowing the boys were doing worthwile things in scouting. My heart goes
out to you. "

 Joan wrote on June 13, 2008 5:13 pm:
" My prayers are with the boys and families "

 Eagle Mom wrote on June 13, 2008 5:16 pm:
" My prayers are with the boys and families, My boys are all scouts, one eagle so far they have been going to camp for years and have an underground shelter. Why did a camp in the midwest not have one? It is sad that it takes such a devistating event for change to happen. "

 You should be ashamed wrote on June 13, 2008 6:23 pm:
" To those folks who are sharing their expert opinions on the situation: How many of you have actually been there? The shelter WAS in a valley that you claim the should have sought. Try being informed before spouting off. Those cabins are the safest place to be. You should all be ashamed of your "expertise". You know nothing. "

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