WESTMORELAND, KS – Severe tornadoes swept through northeast Kansas on Tuesday, claiming one life and completely obliterating around twenty-two homes in the small city of Westmoreland, according to local officials.
The twister reportedly hit the city in the evening hours, causing substantial damage to multiple structures, as Pottawatomie County officials informed us on social media. First responders expedited immediate grid searches to assess the extent of the damage and ensure everyone’s safety.
The unfortunate death was confirmed by a representative from Pottawatomie County through a press release, though the identity of the deceased is being held until the family is suitably informed. In addition to the fatality, three other people reportedly suffered injuries but are in non-critical condition.
Along with the twenty-two homes, the twister wreaked havoc on five outbuildings in the northern part of the city and an estimated three Recreational Vehicles (RVs) present in a local RV park were damaged, as reported by the County representative.
Adding to the city’s woes, Westmoreland was rendered powerless late on Tuesday, according to an update issued by the county spokesperson. The city is located approximately forty-five miles northwest of Topeka.
Eyewitness accounts shared on social media captured the fury of the tornado as images of the whirlwind grounded in Westmoreland along with photos of damaged homes, upended trees, and an overturned semi were posted.
The weather woes are part of a series of severe storms that have been ravaging the country in recent days, with tornadoes slashing through Oklahoma last Sunday, killing four and injuring over a hundred. A similar twister stormed through Nebraska and Iowa on Friday, leveling homes and businesses, and resulting in one casualty.