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WEATHER: National Weather Service initial findings classify tornadic activity as EF-2 in Chase County; Surveying to continue Friday

Emporia, KS, USA / KVOE
Chuck Samples and Tagan Trahoon
Apr 20, 2023 | 10:02 AM
WEATHER: National Weather Service initial findings classify tornadic activity as EF-2 in Chase County; Surveying to continue Friday

Headstones at Saint Anthony Cemetery did not fare well after tornadic activity Wednesday night. City of Strong City photo.



The National Weather Service Wichita office has published its preliminary findings following surveys of tornado damage in Chase County.

According to NWS the tornadoes that touched down in the county Wednesday evening reached EF-2 intensity. Preliminary damage findings as a result of the tornadoes were located one mile east of Elmdale, three miles southwest of Strong City and 3.5 miles south of Dunlap.

According to Chase County Sheriff Jacob Welsh, the survey teams will be returning to Chase County Friday to continue assessments. Cleanup has been underway throughout the day Thursday all across Chase County with Welsh telling KVOE News there was noticeable damage to several barns, homes, Saint Anthony Cemetery, the Cottonwood Falls baseball field and trees near the Chase County Courthouse.

Wind gusts as high as 85 mph were reported by the National Weather Service in Elmdale during the storm activity Wednesday evening. More than 920 Evergy customers in the Chase County area were knocked offline during the storms.

Evergy had all outages restored just after 7 pm Thursday evening. According to District Services Manager Rolland Trahoon II, the storms downed between 25-30 poles across the county.

Trahoon tells KVOE News given the extent of the damage additional crews had to be called in from several other areas. He says this is common practice across the Evergy service area when it comes to restoration efforts of this magnitude.

For a complete recap of Wednesday’s storm activity click here. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they become available.

 

4:36 pm Thursday: WEATHER: Disaster declaration issued by Chase County Commission as cleanup continues from Wednesday tornado

Chase County Commissioners have declared a disaster declaration as cleanup and assessments continue following tornadic activity Wednesday night.

According to Chase County Sheriff Jacob Welsh as of noon Thursday, the National Weather Service has staff completing damage surveys across the county. The cities of Cottonwood Falls and Strong City are assisting with limb pickup and will continue to do so through the coming days.

Wind gusts exceeded 60 mph throughout the storm event with a gust of 85 mph reported in Elmdale according to the National Weather Service.

As of 2 pm Thursday, just under 160 Evergy customers remain without power with the largest number of outages, 157, located between Elmdale and Clements on US Highway 50.  According to Evergy District Services Manager Rolland Trahoon II storms downed roughly 25-30 power poles across Chase County with a portion of those located between Strong City, Cottonwood Falls and Elmdale and another portion located to the north of Strong City.

At one time more than 920 customers were without power at the height of the storm activity. Additional crews from Manhattan and Topeka were called in to assist with the restoration efforts.

Trahoon tells KVOE News power should be restored to all customers by sunset Thursday.

Only two incidents of minor injuries have been reported thus far, both involving motor vehicles. Welsh says a semi driver was hurt when the US-50 tornado hit the vehicle near Elmdale. That currently unnamed person was taken to Newman Regional Health with unspecified but non-life-threatening injuries. A car may have been hit by a tornado east of Strong City. The driver suffered minor injuries but did not need a hospital trip.

Preliminary findings from NWS are still expected by late Thursday afternoon, however, an exact time has not been announced. Welsh says anyone with storm damage reports need to contact the Chase County Sheriff’s Office at 620-273-6313 to help with tracking the storm’s impact.

In other related news, Chase County residents needing various forms of legal assistance resulting from Wednesday’s storm activity can reach out to Kansas Legal Services.

Local director Ty Wheeler says Chase County residents can call 620-343-7520 or stop by the office at 527 Commercial Suite 201 for more information.

Besides offering defense services, Kansas Legal Services offers a range of legal assistance, including but not limited consumer, disability, discrimination, drivers license, expungement, family law, housing, mediation and public benefits. The agency’s website, kansaslegalservices.org, has an assistance application and another link to free forms.

Photographs of the storm and resulting damage can also be sent to CCSO@ChaseCountyKS.com.

10:02 am Thursday: WEATHER: ‘Even some things that were nailed to the ground were picked up’ — Chase County residents working to clear tornado damage
Cleanup continues in Chase County after as many as four tornadoes touched down Wednesday night.
During KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Thursday, Sheriff Jacob Welsh told listeners the apparent — and sporadic — damage path stretches from near the Marion County line to near the Lyon County line.
Damage also includes many headstones at Saint Anthony Cemetery, fencing and dugouts at the Cottonwood Falls baseball field and the trees near the Chase County Courthouse — although possibly not the courthouse itself.
Preliminary findings from the National Weather Service could be available by late Thursday afternoon.
The two people who suffered injuries were apparently hurt while driving. Welsh says a semi driver was hurt when the US-50 tornado hit the vehicle near Elmdale. That currently unnamed person was taken to Newman Regional Health with unspecified but non-life-threatening injuries. A car may have been hit by a tornado east of Strong City. The driver suffered minor injuries but did not need a hospital trip.
Wednesday night served as the first time Chase County’s emergency shelter locations at Chase County Elementary in Strong City and Chase County Junior-Senior High in Cottonwood Falls were in use through a partnership involving the county and USD 284. Welsh says things went well with at least 40 residents using one of the shelters.
Over 100 Evergy customers remain offline from Strong City and Cottonwood Falls southwest to Clements, but that number is well below the over 900 customers who initially lost power. USD 284 Chase County schools opened on time Thursday, although USD 251 North Lyon County students had a 2-hour delay.
There was one hiccup when the Law Enforcement Center briefly lost power shortly before the tornado warning was issued. Power was being restored as the warning was announced, meaning a slight delay in sounding at least one outdoor warning siren.
All things considered, including reports of hail to baseball or teacup size and wind gusts above 60 mph, Welsh says Chase County residents are relieved at how things ultimately turned out.