- People living in centralIowa are thankful to be alive

after a series of tornadoestore through the state Thursday.

Jennifer Wishon tellsus the scariest part is

no one saw the storms coming.

- [Speaker] That's atornado, let's go, come on.

- [Jennifer] Panic incentral Iowa Thursday

without warning multiple twisters tore

through three communitiesMarshalltown, Pella and Bondurant,

catching even weatherforecasters by surprise.

- [Speaker] Oh my god!

Honey get inside, there just went a house.

- [Jennifer] Thetornadoes ripped their way

through homes tossing asidetrees and vehicles like toys.

A family in Marshalltown hunkered down

in the basement of their business,

listened to cracks, booms and explosions

as the twister roared above them.

- [Speaker] Yeah, I'm shaking.

- [Jennifer] In Pella, a tornado bounced

around the Vermeer Corporation campus

like a pinball in a game.

- It was crazy, we sawthe tornado jumped down

and it hit plant three.

- [Jennifer] As the twisters touched down

the farm equipment manufacturer

was hosting nearly 500 peoplefor customer appreciation day.

Alarms sounded as employeeshurried people into shelters.

- Pastor Kevin Korverwas here immediately,

I appreciate him being here.

- [Jennifer] At least17 people were injured

but residents are thankful

the storms didn't claim any lives.

Jennifer Wishon, CBN News.