Greenfield hospital reopens six months after deadly Iowa tornado

GREENFIELD, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Adair County’s only hospital officially cut the ribbon to mark the reopening after the tornado this spring.

The May EF-04 tornado killed four people and damaged hundreds of homes and businesses.

The hospital sits just feet from the tornado’s path. Hospital CEO Catherine Hillestad said, “I don’t think that there was a part of this hospital that wasn’t touched by the tornado in some aspect.”

Hillestad says the entire roof had to be replaced and the wind blew out most of their windows.

“The debris and the glass was embedded in our drywall so essentially we had to take everything down to the studs and then put it back up,” she said.

They had to move their clinic to the elementary school in the aftermath.

Hillestead says the community is eager for the hospital to reopen, because the next closest hospital is 20 miles away.

“This hospital is extremely important to the community and the patients it serves. You know, without this hospital, it would be really hard for people to access healthcare just because of the distance from other hospitals,” she said.

While the hospital is now accepting patients, State Rep. Bubba Sorensen (R-Greenfield) is putting finishing touches on a mural inside.

“Have the medical symbol right here and it’s kind of, it’s a little bit of an artsy take on it. So, instead of snake heads, I used eagle heads,” he said.

Sorensen says Greenfield is making remarkable progress in its recovery. “Greenfield’s never going to be the same. We’re always going to have kind of that scar through town but I think it’s we’re coming back stronger than ever,” she said.

Sorensen says the fact that a rural community like Greenfield has a rural hospital makes it crucial for the small town’s success.

“Not every rural community has an amazing hospital like this and they offer so many services here. Like I said, a great anchor point, you know. Everybody looks towards schools, hospitals, and things like that to have in a community if you want to move into a community,” he said.

Construction is mostly finished. All they need now is a garage to house their ambulance.

—

Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.