People across south-eastern Nebraska have their work cut out -- picking up the trail of debris scattered by an early morning storm.

In Hallam, Dan Ebbers is working to make water safe again, after strong winds ripped the water tower lid off, posing dangers for possible contamination.

"It's just they have to boil their water for drinking purposes. It's fine to take baths with or water, just for safety precautions that's why were putting the boil order in," said Ebbers.

Ebbers said he tested the water for the first time around noon Monday and expects to get results back Tuesday afternoon. If the test passes, he expects the boiling advisory will end Thursday.

Just south of Hallam, in Cortland, it could take weeks to repair some damage. High winds pushed over parts cornfields just a few miles south of town, and left several streets blocked by downed trees.

Alice Moormeier's home sustained between an estimated $1,500 and $2,000 in damage when winds sent a tree onto her roof.

"Well I heard the wind and then all of a sudden it just sounded like the windows were coming in. It was the strangest sound and then it kind of let up by I never dreamed a tree fell on my house," said Moormeier.

Meanwhile, in Denton high winds took down power lines and a number of trees including one nearly 100 years old in LeAnn Johns' yard. While it didn't hit their house, the crash gave the family quite a scare Monday morning.

"The wind and the rain and the hail was really loud and we weren't quite sure what was going on," said Johns.

What Johns said she does know - the damage could have been a lot worse.