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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2008 No. 08-051 STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO CAUSE DAMAGE A storm system that began May 22 continues to do damage within the state,
adding to the damage totals for the State of Disaster Emergency declared
by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The Kansas Highway Patrol conducted flyovers this morning of Republic,
Jewell and Smith Counties to assess weather-related damage from last night's
storms. One home was destroyed and two damaged in Rooks County. Officials are
unsure if the damage was caused by a tornado or high straight-line winds. Jewell County officials report a tornado struck by in the southwest part
of the county, destroying one home and damaging three others. Reports
indicate the tornado was on the ground for approximately eight to 10 miles.
Power was knocked out to a communications repeater tower, but has since
been restored with a generator. There have also been reports of a broken
gas line in the city of Jewell. The American Red Cross has established
a relief area for emergency workers, but no shelter has been set up. Two homes sustained damages in Mitchell County and a number of trees
and branches were knocked down. Cawker City and Glen Elder were without
power as of 11 p.m. on Thursday. Power was out for a time in Belleville in Republic County, but has since
been restored. Three homes in the county suffered major damage. Golf ball-sized hail was reported in the Smith/Phillips County area along
with three to four inches of rain. Scattered power outages were reported. Damage was reported to the Smith County courthouse and extensive hail
damage was reported in the city of Smith Center. The Osborne County Sheriff's Department reported power lines and trees
down in some rural areas. Some trailer homes and tractor trailers were
also reported damaged. An elevator in Tipton was damaged when a tractor
trailer was blown into it. The Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative reported approximately 160 power
poles and seven transmission structures destroyed in six counties that
it serves. As of Friday, May 30, three substations were without power
and two others had partial power. Company officials expect power to be
restored by the end of the weekend. Gov. Sebelius declared a State of Disaster Emergency on May 28 for the
following counties: Barber, Barton, Cheyenne, Clark, Cloud, Comanche,
Decatur, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant,
Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearney,
Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Meade, Mitchell, Morton,
Ness, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Rawlins, Reno,
Republic, Rice, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Scott, Seward, Sheridan,
Sherman, Smith, Sedgwick, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Thomas,
Trego, Wallace and Wichita. The declaration was for damages caused by severe thunderstorms, tornadoes,
high straight-line winds, hail, lightning and flooding for a period beginning
May 22 and continuing. -30- |
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