Opportunities in Tornadoes

Parkersburg, IA, reeling from a recent tornado that devastated the town, could look to nearby Charles City for a silver lining.

1 minute read

June 2, 2008, 2:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"Iowans who helped plan the rebuilding of Charles City after a deadly tornado there 40 years ago have some advice for their neighbors in the next county south: As unlikely as the thought seems amid the raw pain of today, look at this as an opportunity for your city.

Charles City, which had nearly 10,000 people as of the 1960 census, was considerably bigger than Parkersburg's population of 1,900. But the death toll and damage from tornadoes that descended May 15, 1968, were greater, too. Seventeen people died across northeast Iowa, including 13 in Charles City; 600 people were injured; and 372 homes and 58 businesses were destroyed. The twister cut right through the central business district.

So that's where city leaders put much of their focus. It had needed work anyway. Even before the storm, water and sewer pipes were badly deteriorated, said John Culbertson, who served on the Planning and Zoning Commission at the time. Rebuilding offered the opportunity to shore up the city's basic infrastructure while also sketching more grandiose plans to make the business district work better for shoppers, walkers and drivers."

Sunday, June 1, 2008 in Des Moines Register

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight