WESTMORELAND, Kan. (AP) — One person died Tuesday when a tornado ripped through the small city of Westmoreland in northeastern Kansas, destroying houses, RVs and outbuildings, authorities said.
Pottawatomie County officials said on Facebook that a tornado struck the city of about 700 people Tuesday evening, destroying 22 homes, three RVs and five outbuildings and damaging another 13 homes and one commercial building. First responders were conducting grid searches in Westmoreland to survey damage and to look for people who may have been injured.
A Pottawatomie County spokesperson confirmed the single fatality in a news release sent to media. The name of the person who died was being withheld pending family notification.
Three people also were reported injured, but none of them were critical, the county spokesperson said in a follow-up statement.
Westmoreland is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Topeka and is the Pottawatomie County seat.
Images posted to social media showed a tornado on the ground in Westmoreland, as well as damaged homes, uprooted trees and a flipped semi.
The county spokesperson said the entire city was without power Tuesday night and county offices were running on emergency generators. The Red Cross set up a shelter at the local high school about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from town.
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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—One person has died from injuries in the Tuesday afternoon tornado in Pottawatomie County, according to County Spokesperson Becky Ryan.
In addition to the fatality, three others were treated for injuries.
Just after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a tornado struck the Pottawatomie County community of Westmoreland, according to a statement from the county.
At this time, there are reports of damage to multiple structures in the city. Officials did reopen Highway 99 to traffic.
Multiple first responders have arrived in Westmoreland to conduct grid searches to catalog damage and search for more people that may have been injured. Officials ask the general public to please keep away from the area at this time.
At 8p.m., a temporary shelter opened at Rock Creek High School, 9355 Flush Road, for those displaced due to the the tornado.
Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.