One person killed as storms packing winds as high as 90 mph hit Lincoln, Omaha

A storm packing winds as high as 90 mph blew through eastern Nebraska early Saturday morning, downing trees and leaving tens of thousands without power. One person was killed at a state park near Omaha.

The National Weather Service said the Lincoln Airport recorded a 91-mile-per-hour wind gust. There also was a 91-mph gust recorded near Fairmont, in Fillmore County.

Those high winds toppled numerous trees in Lincoln and Omaha. In most cases there was only minor damage and no injuries, but one incident proved fatal.

The Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department said in a news release that a woman was killed at Two Rivers State Park when a tree fell on a vehicle she was in. A man who was with her was seriously injured and was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in this tragic incident and want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family," the news release said. "We are also grateful for the coordinated efforts of all the agencies involved in this complex rescue.”

In the Lincoln area, more than 34,000 customers were without power at one point Saturday morning. As of about 1 p.m., that number was still about 10,000.

Lincoln Transportation and Utilities said in a news release that nearly 70 traffic signals around the city were out of operation.

The Omaha Public Power District had roughly 21,000 customers without power as of 1 p.m., down from a peak of nearly 40,000. OPPD said roughly 70 linemen from Kansas and Missouri were coming to the Omaha area to help restore power.

In Lincoln, the Nebraska State Penitentiary sustained damage to two housing units, requiring the Department of Corrections to relocate 387 inmates and cancel all visits for the weekend. The department said in a news release that there were no injuries to inmates or staff, and it was able to relocate about 250 inmates to other areas of the penitentiary. The rest were relocated to either the Omaha Correctional Center or the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

The Lancaster Super Fair, being held at the Sandhills Global Event Center in northeast Lincoln, sustained some significant damage to its main stage, which required the relocation of a concert Saturday night as well as an adjusted schedule on its last day.

There also were reports of people injured at Branched Oak State Recreation Area in Lancaster County, although there has been no official confirmation from law enforcement.

Blair, a city of 8,000 people about 25 miles north of Omaha, declared an emergency because of storm damage and flooding from heavy rain, and city officials asked non-residents to avoid visiting the city until at least Monday.

The storm caused the Pinnacle Bank Championship, a professional golf tournament in Omaha, to postpone start times for the third round Saturday.

Some areas that saw severe weather Saturday morning could be in for heavy rain Saturday night and into Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Jefferson, Lancaster and Saline counties starting at 7 p.m.

Thunderstorms will develop this evening with heavy rainfall rates, and may continue to move over the same areas for several hours," the weather service said in a bulletin. "There is a good chance for some areas to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, with localized areas of more than 3 inches possible."