CASTLE ROCK, June 24 — A woman and her son survived a direct hit from a tornado that destroyed or heavily damaged several buildings on her farm Wednesday evening.

The EF1 tornado was the second of three that hit Crawford, northeastern Grant and Iowa counties. Reported damage from the three tornadoes includes agricultural buildings damaged or destroyed, numerous trees down across roadways, and downed power lines and utility poles.

The most significant tornado damage of the storm extended southeast of Boscobel through Hickory Grove and Castle Rock, exiting Grant County near Highland according to Steve Braun, director of Emergency Management for Grant County.

Fennimore Fire Chief Todd Bresee reported that there was widespread damage in the Castle Rock area that included trees down, power poles down, and at least two buildings that were destroyed.

That included Morgan Shemak’s farm on Grant County Q just west of the Grant–Iowa county line.

“My son and I were home alone and had just sat down to eat supper,” she said. “I had gotten a tornado watch text on my phone, and I remember thinking that was so strange because the sun was shining and it looked beautiful outside. I was just about to check my weather app when the rain started and I got the tornado warning message. I got my son out of his high chair and went to look out our living room window to see better and that's when the wind picked up, the power went out, and the rain started to go sideways.

“I couldn't believe how hard the wind was blowing and tried to get a call out to my husband. That was when I started to see pieces of buildings going by the window. I grabbed the thickest blanket I could find and wrapped up my son in it. I ran to our hallway because we don't have a basement and I didn't know where else to go. I laid down on top of him in the hallway and I just remember screaming and praying for the walls of our house to hold. I could feel the house shake as the debris hit our house. It was being hit so hard that it knocked the pictures off my son's bedroom wall. I can remember him screaming ‘Mama’ and crying as the wind tore through our farm.

“I have never in my life been gripped by such a deep sense of fear. I really, truly didn't know if we would be OK.”

Shemak and her son then got out of their house. Three buildings on her farm were destroyed, and four suffered enough damage that “I’m not 100 percent sure what will be saved out of those four,” she said.

“The next thing I remember was looking out the same living room window and seeing nothing but tin and 2 x 4s and downed power lines. The shed that sits right behind my house was completely gone, the set posts ripped entirely out of the ground. I truly believe if that shed hadn't been there, my house would be gone and so would me and my son.

“I was physically sick seeing the damage and thinking about how things could've been so much worse. We were extremely lucky. While we had a lot of damage, I can't help but be incredibly grateful that my family and neighbors all made it through. Buildings and equipment can all be replaced, people can't be.”

Other buildings on the farm suffered smaller roof and window damage or cosmetic damage.

Other impacted areas include the intersections of Grant County S and Johnson Road, Witek Road and Neff Road, Grant County G and Biba Road, and Shemak Road.

Bresee said the Fennimore, Montfort and Muscoda fire departments all worked with township and county personnel to clear roadways Wednesday evening.

The first tornado, classified as an EF-2, developed in Allamakee County, Iowa, and tracked east-southeast before crossing the Mississippi River and continuing southeast through Crawford County.

Due to storm damage, Wisconsin 35 at Crawford County N was blocked in both directions near Eastman. According to Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, more than 4,000 people in Crawford County were without power.

The second, classified as an EF-1, developed just southeast of Boscobel and moved east-southeast across Grant County into northwest Iowa County.

The severe storms with high winds and heavy rain made a brief, but significant appearance in Boscobel early Wednesday evening, taking out heavy branches and trees.

“The City of Boscobel is in pretty good shape,” said Boscobel Director of Public Works Herschel Mark. “We did have a few trees down, but not much reported for damage on structures. There was a few communication lines down and one electric house service.”

Boscobel evening activities such Tom Innis’ “Music on Main” performance still went on after the storm had passed. Last Wednesday’s performance was moved into the Hideaway Bar and Grill due to the weather.

There was a brief “intermission” when the tornado sirens went off and those in attendance took shelter in the basement of the Hideaway, but Boscobel City Administrator Patricia Smith stated that “All was well after and Tom Innis played his full set and people did come in after the storm had passed through.”

The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post it responded to multiple reports of damage from Highland to south of Ridgeway and Barneveld. The Sheriff’s Office reported seeing significant structural damage, wire damage and trees down.

The third tornado, also an EF-1, formed south of Dodgeville and moved east-southeast to south of Ridgeway.

The Sheriff’s Office flew drones to assess damage.

No injuries have been reported, and no major damage to residences has been identified.