Trees downed, homes damaged in Pleasant Hill after tornadoes sweep through area.

A tree limb slammed through a bedroom window and pierced the exterior wall of a Pleasant Hill home Friday, April 26, showering glass and twigs, the result of a fast-moving tornado that tore through several blocks.

Rosie Ostrand was inside her Birch Boulevard residence when the storm swept through, but fortunately was not in the bedroom.

Outside, a trampoline was wrapped around a standing tree limb, and a street sign was blown over,

Ostrand, who said she’s lived in her Pleasant Hill home for more than 50 years, said she's experienced other tornadoes, but “I’ve never had this much damage.”

Friday's tornado touched down just west of Pleasant Hill around 9 p.m., sweeping across town, injuring one and damaging nearly 20 homes.

Pleasant Hill Fire Department Chief Jamie Xayavong told reporters at an 11 a.m. news conference Saturday that the injury was not life-threatening, though the 18 damaged homes were no longer inhabitable.

The tornado is believed to have touched down near the intersection of Parkridge Avenue and E Oakwood Drive and headed northeast, toppling trees and power lines along the way.

Xayavong said storm damage has been reported as far east as NE 80th Street.

The fire chief did not know how strong the tornado was, though it left several other homes with moderate or minor damage. She indicated that more damage reports could come in as recovery continues.

None of the displaced residents needed emergency shelter, Xayavong said.

Resident returns from concert to find damaged home

On Burr Oak Boulevard, resident Matt Flagg said he had been at a concert at Wells Fargo Arena with one of his children when the storm hit.

Flagg returned home to find, among other damage, a large gash and a separate large hole in the side of his garage. His garage door was partially blown out toward the driveway.

“The derecho was comparable but I’ve never had anything blow through the side of my house,” Flagg said.

Family and friends were around to help clean up.

Along the block, there were cars caked with insulation and piles of shingles and lumber waiting to be cleared. One house appeared to have most of its roof missing.

More: Where is Minden, Iowa? What we know on the Iowa tornado that caused significant destruction

Iowa residents flock to Pleasant Hill help with recovery

Sounds of sawing and an aroma of freshly cut lumber and tree sap filled the Pleasant Hill air Saturday morning.

A group of volunteers representing the United Cajun Navy nonprofit worked to clear Ostrand’s yard and others along her block, using skid steer loaders to scoop up trees that had been cut with chainsaws.

Altoona residents Aubrey Bailey and Colby Cook were a few of the United Cajun Navy volunteers who helped with recovery efforts. Cook owns a landscaping service, Cook Landscapes & Dirt Works, and brought the heavy equipment.

“This is Iowa," Bailey said. "We’re all coming together."

More: Tiny Minden, Iowa, riddled with debris after tornado smashes through town Friday

Thousands lose power during Friday's storms

At the height of the storm, Kathryn Kunert, of MidAmerican Energy, more than 10,000 customers in the metro were without power.

Kunert said the 390 or so customers still without power are expected to have service restored around 6 p.m.

Given the extensive number of downed power lines and debris in Pleasant Hill, Xayavong encouraged residents to stay out of the area.

Xayavong said people had come from as far away as Granger to assist Pleasant Hill.

“We needed the resources to check houses,” she said.

She did not yet know if school would be held on Monday in Pleasant Hill.

More: 'Large and extremely dangerous' tornadoes sweep across Iowa. Minden hit hard.

Polk County officials ask for clean-up help, donations

The Polk County Emergency Management Agency has been out much of Saturday assessing the damage and coordinating resources for residents in need.

Polk County officials are organizing a call for volunteer help in Pleasant Hill. Authorities say monetary donations can be sent to the Polk County and Greater Des Moines Community Foundation disaster recovery fund.

“We are saddened by the widespread damage caused by the tornadoes and storms in Pleasant Hill and across Polk County.” Polk County Board Chair Angela Connolly said in a press release. “Our primary focus right now is on ensuring the safety and well-being of all our residents. We are working closely with local first responders, utility crews, and volunteer organizations to provide assistance and support to those impacted by this disaster."

Phillip Sitter covers the western suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: A tornado swept through Pleasant Hill. Here's what we know: