Kansas tornado causes widespread damage
DICKINSON COUNTY, Kan. -- Emergency officials in Dickinson County, Kansas, confirmed at least 20 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed Wednesday night after a tornado touched ground, CBS affiliate KWCH reported.
A wedge tornado about a half-mile wide was confirmed in northeast Saline County and was tracking east at about 20 mph. Most of the damage was north of Abliene, the station said.
Troopers checked MULTIPLE damaged houses from #Tornado activity in Dickinson County.
— Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) May 26, 2016
No injuries reported or located at this time.
Just pulled up to this home north of Abilene. Owner says they fled when they could see it from about 5 miles away pic.twitter.com/rrWAFvneb5
— Anna Auld (@KWCHAnna) May 26, 2016
Shortly before 7:30 p.m. people in extreme southeast Ottawa County and northwest Dickinson County were told to take cover, especially those located north of I-70.
Nickel-sized hail was reported in Chapman, with damage confirmed nearby.
Chapman Police Chief Emil Halfhill told CBS News one person was taken to a hospital. Halfhill said the city itself was spared, with damage occurring about a mile to the south.
Downed power lines were blocking Old 40 with other structures damaged or destroyed, KWCH reported.
On Tuesday, weather service meteorologist Andrew White in Dodge City said multiple tornadoes struck Ford and Hodgeman counties during a two-hour span, including an EF-2 twister that caused damage in western Ford County.
Preliminary reports indicated that at least one of the tornadoes was a half-mile wide. The tornadoes, which injured at least two people, were part of a series of storms that also pounded the Plains with rain and hail.