A state of emergency has been declared after twin tornadoes ripped through the sleepy eastern Nebraska town of Pilger and left one person dead.

A tornado first touched down near Wisner, Nebraska just after 4 p.m. "The tops of silos are gone, lets just hope people are undergound." (Via The Weather Channel)

Shortly after, two tornadoes headed toward Pilger. "Homes completely leveled. There was a Ford F-150 that was completely flipped over. Their homes are pretty much gone." (Via KMTV)

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Pilger, a small town of 378 inhabitants, boasts the slogan "The little town too tough to die."

CNN spoke with a shocked resident. "There is a lot of damage. Half to three quarters of the town. Downtown is all gone."

The Weather Channel also reports the intense storm brought golf ball- to tennis ball-sized hail and resulted in half an inch of rain in three minutes.

KTIV reports 16 people are in critical condition at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska.