15 Bunnies Survive Powerful Tornado in Iowa

Danielle Klosterman's pet rabbits emerge unharmed after her shed is destroyed in an EF-1 twister.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:09am

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A dramatic landscape painting in the style of Caspar David Friedrich, showing a massive, swirling tornado in the distance dwarfing a small rural shed in the foreground, conveying the overwhelming power of the natural disaster.A powerful tornado rips through a small Iowa town, but the resilience of one family's pet bunnies shines through the destruction.Preston Today

A category EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph ripped through the small town of Preston, Iowa, on Thursday night, destroying a 10-foot-by-20-foot shed belonging to Danielle Klosterman. Inside the shed were 15 of Klosterman's pet bunnies, who miraculously survived the powerful storm.

Why it matters

Tornadoes can cause widespread destruction, and this incident highlights the resilience of animals caught in extreme weather events. The story also showcases the bravery and quick thinking of the Klosterman family in rescuing their pets from the damaged shed.

The details

After the tornado passed, Klosterman and her family rushed to the shed, which had been rolled over by the powerful winds. They used a ladder to access the door, which was facing the sky, and carefully removed each of the 15 bunnies, all of whom were unharmed. The Klostermans then moved the rabbits to their outdoor hutches, before turning their attention to cleaning up the damage around their property.

  • The tornado struck on Thursday night, April 3, 2026.
  • The Klostermans rescued the bunnies immediately after the storm passed.

The players

Danielle Klosterman

A resident of Preston, Iowa, who owns 15 pet bunnies that survived a powerful tornado that destroyed her shed.

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What they’re saying

“As soon as the wind stopped, we were out here. I mean in was still raining and lightning, we had a downed live power line, so we were trying to be careful, but my main concern was getting rabbits out and making sure they were OK.”

— Danielle Klosterman

What’s next

The Klosterman family will continue to clean up the damage around their property in the coming days.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the resilience of animals and the bravery of their owners in the face of extreme weather events. It serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared and acting quickly to protect pets and loved ones when natural disasters strike.