Anniversary of Parkersburg Tornado

PARKERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — It's been eight years since a massive tornado destroyed nearly 300 homes and killed nine people in the northern Iowa city of Parkersburg, but city leaders say the town's revival is a model for other cities recovering from natural disasters.

The May 25, 2008, twister caused $100 million in damage.

City Administrator Chris Luhring says the community didn't dwell on the destruction and moved quickly to work on repairs.

He highlights the fact that Aplington-Parkersburg High School was reconstructed a little over a year after the tornado destroyed the school, allowing the school to hold fall classes in 2009.

The school's reconstruction restored hope in the community, and the city has awarded 250 new residential building permits since 2008.