December 15, 2021 Derecho A Reminder to be Ready for All Types of Weather

Last Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the derecho that swept across Iowa on December 15, 2021.

The extreme weather event spawned 63 tornadoes across the state, including a dozen in north central and northeast Iowa.

Pete Hjelmstad, with the Mason City District office of the Iowa DOT, says the derecho serves as a reminder to be ready for all types of weather that could impact your travel

Hjelmstad says how involved DOT crews get involved with cleanup after a storm depends on the extent of the aftermath.

Hjelmstad said he remembers coming home from the gym prior to the last year’s storm activity and securing his grill and other outdoor items so they weren’t blown away.

Hjelmstad also encourages motorists to check road conditions before they head out.