WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A tornado that ripped through parts of Kansas damaged multiple buildings, injured several people and left more than 6,500 people without power, authorities said Saturday.
Officials said the suspected tornado moved through portions of southeastern Wichita and Andover on Friday night. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said during a Saturday morning news conference that between 50 and 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, though it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged in Andover.
Russell said that in some neighborhoods houses “were completely blown away.”
Authorities said only a few injuries had been reported. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including a woman who suffered serious injuries. Russell said no injuries had been reported in Butler County, but a secondary assessment would take place Saturday morning.
COMMERCIAL
He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough that houses completely collapsed” and cited areas that suffered “very severe damage.”
City Hall was also damaged, hampering “some of our efforts,” Russell said. Other damaged buildings include the Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School.
Governor Laura Kelly declared a state of disaster emergency for the most affected areas. The declaration makes state resources available to assist local jurisdictions with response and recovery efforts in affected areas throughout the state.
In addition to the tornadoes, large hail was reported in several towns in the Plains. Baseball-sized hail was detected near Holbrook, Nebraska, and Enterprise, Kansas, according to the National Weather Service and storm watchers.
——–
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A suspected tornado tore through parts of Kansas, damaging multiple buildings, injuring several people and leaving more than 6,500 people without power, authorities said Saturday.
Officials said the suspected tornado moved through portions of southeastern Wichita and Andover on Friday night. Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said during a Saturday morning news conference that between 50 and 100 buildings were damaged in Sedgwick County, though it was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged in Andover.
Russell said that in some neighborhoods houses “were completely blown away.”
Authorities said only a few injuries had been reported. In Sedgwick County, three people were injured, including a woman who suffered serious injuries. Russell said no injuries had been reported in Butler County, but a secondary assessment would take place Saturday morning.
Russell said that while it was not immediately known how many buildings had been damaged, more than 900 structures were in the path of the suspected tornado.
He said some neighborhoods were “damaged enough that houses completely collapsed” and cited areas that suffered “very severe damage.”
City Hall was also damaged, hampering “some of our efforts,” Russell said. Other damaged buildings include the Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and Prairie Creek Elementary School.
Due to tornado damage in the Andover area, US 54/400 is closed from 159 on the west to Santa Fe Lake Road on the east. Traffic is being diverted, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Multiple tornadoes were reported in Wabaunsee County on Friday night. One home was destroyed, according to the sheriff’s office. There were no injuries.
——–
BUTLER COUNTY — The National Weather Service reported high winds, four-inch diameter hail and several tornadoes in Kansas on Friday night.
From hail in Phillips, Rooks, and Smith counties to tornadoes in Dickinson, Butler Wabaunsee, and Atchinson County, it was a long night.
There were some reports of power outages and damage. There are no early reports of injuries. Check the post for additional details as they become available.
Reference-salinapost.com