CHAPMAN, Kan. Â Two people are confirmed dead and dozens more are injured after an outbreak of tornados hit northeast Kansas Wednesday night.
Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Adjutant General's Department, said one victim was a 21-year-old woman found outside in a yard in Chapman, in Dickinson County, and the other was a man found outside a mobile home in the Jackson County town of Soldier.
Damage reports have come in from Dickinson, Jackson, Riley and Saline counties.
Chapman suffered what is described as a direct hit by a tornado estimated to be as large as one half mile wide.
Brad Homman, director of administration and emergency services for Dickinson County, said Thursday morning that about 100 homes were destroyed or damaged when the twister struck around 10:30 p.m.
"We have no electricity or water or gas at this point," Hammon told reporters in a briefing. "It may be days before it's restored."
Three critically injured residents were at Geary Community Hospital in nearby Junction City, while dozens of what Homman called "walking wounded" suffered cuts, bruises, scrapes and broken bones.
Electricity was out all over town, and Homman said the search continued for other possible victims.
"We're still going through methodically one residence at a time," he said.
Bob Diehl, a retired maintenance supervisor for school district, opened a storm shelter in the school gymnasium that has four concrete-walled locker rooms.
About 10 minutes later, about 100 people seeking refuge from the storm were huddled in the shelter when the twister hit.
"People were hollering and screaming, and kids were crying. Dogs were yipping," Diehl said. "It was something I hope I never have to go through again."
Watson said a shelter had been established in Abilene and victims were taken there by bus.
News Release from KSU
A tornado also hit Manhattan, Kan., overnight, damaging several buildings on the campus of Kansas State University.
Several local businesses also received extensive damage, according to the National Weather Service.
Storm damage at the university was estimated to exceed $20 million, according to Tom Rawson, vice president for administration and finance.
"The damage on campus is extensive," Rawson said. "Roofs have been damaged or torn off, windows have been blown out in many buildings."
He said Weber Hall was severely damaged, and the Wind Erosion Lab "is gone." There was also significant damage to the engineering complex, and to at least four other buildings, including Ward Hall, which houses the university's nuclear reactor.
Rawson said the reactor was undamaged.
The university said in a statement that no injuries had been reported.
The campus was closed early Thursday morning but a freshman orientation was scheduled to go on as planned later in the morning.
The media relations director at the university also said a number of high school students are staying in the residence halls for summer camps, but none of those buildings were hit.
Farther west, the Weather Service said several livestock were killed near Ellsworth by baseball- to softball-sized hail.
Reply With Quote
