Responders to aftermath of F-2 tornado in Taopi on April 12th recognized at Mower County Board of Commissioners meeting

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik recognized several individuals at the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday that responded to the aftermath of a F-2 tornado that struck the town of Taopi head-on late on the evening of April 12th, and he also honored Sgt. Tom Brogan of the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and Gary Kasel with life-saving awards for rescuing a pair of residents from their heavily damaged home.  Sheriff Sandvik talked with KAUS News stated that despite gas lines to the home being severed, sparks flying, downed power lines and high winds, Brogan and Kasel immediately rescued Thomas Kasel and Jewel Andree from their residence, which could have crumbled or exploded at any time…

Sheriff Sandvik went on to laud the efforts of Mower County Dispatch and the county’s Public Works Department that evening in response to the situation, which was constantly changing…..

Sheriff Sandvik stated recognition will also be given in the near future to neighboring rural fire department and ambulance services, first responders and other organizations who assisted in the recovery effort in Taopi moving forward…

Others who were honored Tuesday included Mower County Sheriff’s Deputies Bronson Hindal, Andy Pike, Sgt. Investigator TJ Lynch, Chief Deputy Mark May, Ryan Norton and Katlynne Fisher, Dispatchers Jessica Tollefson, Tracy Hauschildt, Stephanie Brehmer and Lori Brogan, and Public Works employees Don Smith, Pete Werner, Nick Wehner, Bruce Ellinghyusen and Brandon Johnson.