A five-year-old has been killed and 19 people injured as twin tornadoes swept through the Nebraska town of Pilger.

Up to 75% of the town was heavily damaged or destroyed in the storm according to Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger, with the school and co-operative beyond repair.

Pilger had been evacuated when the twin twisters touched down two kilometres apart, likely saving a number of lives

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has declared a state of emergency and the the National Guard is preparing to deploy to assist local emergency responders to help with the clean up and rebuilding the town.