WAYNE COUNTY, Iowa – Homeowners in southern Iowa have been picking up the pieces after the community suffered major storm damage last week.

Many Lineville residents were convinced it was a tornado that moved through. However, the National Weather Service said an aerial inspection of the aftermath shows it was caused by a significant thunderstorm.

“The wind was going out of every direction, every thirty seconds it switched,” said resident Jay Gregory. “It was weird.”

Gregory took refuge in his basement last Thursday morning. When he emerged, he saw damage that included sheared-off roofs, collapsed buildings, and downed trees.

Despite what the destruction led many residents to believe, the National Weather Service has determined the storm signature was consistent with straight-line microburst winds.

“The rain comes out of the thunderstorms and hits the ground and then accelerates out,” NWS Meteorologist Chad Hahn told WHO 13’s Katie Kaplan. “Damage (sic) caused by 90 miles per hour winds from straight line winds would be equivalent to tornadic winds that were 90 miles per hour, (sic) as well. So the damage is, is equal to each other with the same wind speeds.”

The storm moved through around 8:45 a.m., while the area was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. The neighboring town of Mercer in MO., was also hit.

Hahn said a team from the NWS recently evaluated drone video provided by the county’s Emergency Management team to scrutinize the storm track.

“Lineville had damage on the north end of town all the way to the grain bins that got hit in (sic) south Lineville,” he added.

In the middle of the destruction was the newly constructed volunteer fire station. It was left flattened in the blink of an eye, causing more than $200,00 in damage.

In the aftermath, a WHO 13 crew found neighbors helping each other recover.

“This is what living in a small community is all about,” said Gregory.

It is a trend that has reportedly continued over the past week as clean-up has continued and people have donated to help the Lineville Volunteer Fire Department rebuild. The agency is accepting donations at the First Interstate Bank in Corydon, Iowa. Checks should be made out to the ‘Building Fund’ Account.