Twenty years ago today a powerful F-4 tornado tore through the McCook County community of Spencer leaving six people dead and most of the town a shambles.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Todd Heitkamp remembers watching the storm that spawned the twister take shape on radar
He and fellow meteorologist Greg Harmon traveled to the devastated community the next day to assess the damage
The deadly tornado cut power to the town disabling the outdoor warning siren giving residents little notice.
In the weeks that followed then Senator Tim Johnson led an effort to improve severe weather coverage across the state by adding several NOAA weather radio stations.
