Twin Tornadoes Kill Child, Injure 19 in Nebraska

Twin tornadoes ripped through a tiny Nebraska town Monday, killing a five-year-old child, injuring at least 19 others, and demolishing half the town.

"More than half of the town is gone, absolutely gone," said Jerry Weatherhold, a commissioner with Stanton County. "The co-op is gone, the grain bins are gone, and it looks like almost every house in town has some damage. It's a complete mess."

Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger said between half and three-quarters of Pilger, a tiny town of 350 residents about 100 miles northwest of Omaha, was a "total devastation."

Injured residents were transported to three regional hospitals, some in critical and others in moderate condition.

The rest of the town's residents were evacuated for the night as Nebraska State Patrol closed all roads to Pilger.

National Weather Service meteorologist Barbara Mayes said it's unusual for twin tornadoes to be so similar in strength.

"It's less common for two tornadoes to track together for so long, especially with that same intensity," Mayes said.

She added that it's "by no means unprecedented, but we don't see it very often."