A Twister Turns Up In Southeast Kansas

At least 10 houses were destroyed, and other buildings damaged, when a tornado swept through downtown Parsons, Kan. The police were also forced out of their damaged building.

The twister Wednesday night was one of four that struck southeast Kansas as a line of severe weather stretched from southeast Kansas to northwest Missouri.

But only minor injuries were reported, including injuries to a woman and a child who were rescued from the basement of their collapsed home in Parsons.

"We were able to get the sirens off in time and that made a big difference," said Keith Stammer, public information officer in Labette County.

The police 911 center in Parsons was also knocked out, and calls were being routed to a dispatch center in Oswego, Stammer said. The police had moved their operations to the nearby fire department building.

The storm destroyed a carnival, scattering ferris wheel parts.

"This is nothing like we've ever seen in Parsons," said Martha Walters, an engineering administrative assistant. "We've never had damage like this."

But power was restored Thursday in the community of 13,000, after crews worked through the night.

The Red Cross set up an emergency medical center in Parsons.

The state activated its Emergency Operations Center to take reports of the damage and direct state efforts to provide relief in the damaged areas, according to a public information officer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was notified.

The National Guard likely will be sent to the area. The Kansas Highway Patrol had deployed 19 additional troopers to the area, including 12 to Parsons.

Stammer said better damage estimates would be ready Thursday after authorities could survey in the daylight.

Tornados also touched down in Cherryvale in Montgomery County and Eire in Neosho County, where homes and mobile homes were damaged. There were not immediate reports of injuries.

At least four people had minor injures in Crawford County. Undersheriff Dan Peak said McCune and Walnut were the hardest hit. Three homes were destroyed in McCune and two people were injured by straight-line winds estimated at 80 mph.

Peak said two people were treated in Walnut where a tornado touched down. Damage was still being assessed Thursday.

Peak said several other communities, including Arma, Girard, Hepler and Pittsburg all received high winds and light rain. Damage was limited in those areas to downed power lines and tree limbs.

The line of severe weather included heavy rain, large hail and straight-line winds, according to the National Weather Service. The storm system moved rapidly eastward, traveling at 50 mph to 55 mph at its peak.

The National Weather Service in Springfield estimates the tornados in Crawford and Neosho counties were one-half to one mile wide.