A tornado recently struck the Wichita, Kansas area, particularly impacting Andover, which is located approximately 14 miles east of Wichita. The Wichita Fire Chief, Tammy Snow, reported that rescue operations were underway to assist residents trapped in their homes due to debris. The tornado caused minor injuries to 12 people.
Jim Jonas, Wichita’s Director of Communications, estimated that 50 to 100 structures were damaged in the area. Among the affected structures was the YMCA community center in Andover, where significant damage to homes and vehicles was also reported. Efforts were being made to clear the roads for easier access.
During the tornado, employees and customers at Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store sought shelter in the store’s bathroom, experiencing a power outage as the tornado passed nearby.
Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson Chad Crittenden mentioned that law enforcement officers were conducting door-to-door check-ins in Andover. The extent of the damage was still being assessed, and emergency crews were responding to the situation.
The National Weather Service in Wichita planned to send teams to conduct damage surveys. This tornado was part of multiple tornadoes that touched down in Kansas, leading Gov. Laura Kelly to declare a state of disaster emergency. The governor emphasized the importance of prompt response to such emergencies.
As a result of the tornadoes, over 20,000 homes and businesses were left without power in Kansas, as reported by PowerOutage.us. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center reported 15 tornadoes on that day, primarily in Kansas and Nebraska, with one in Florida. Additionally, there were numerous reports of wind damage and hail, including significant hail in Enterprise, Kansas.
The West is concurrently experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades, leading to an early and record-setting fire season. Over a million acres have burned since January, well above the average for this time of year. New Mexico, in particular, has been severely affected, with several large fires burning.
