By Jerald Jimenez
May 1, 2024, 2:28 PM EDT
A violent tornado struck the quiet town of Westmoreland, Kansas, leaving a trail of destruction and desolation in its wake. At least one person has reportedly been killed and three more injured. The identity of the fatal victim is being withheld until the family is notified.
The tornado, which hit Westmoreland around 4:40 p.m. local time, caused significant damage to several structures. Meanwhile, emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene to assess the damage and search for possible victims.
The Pottawatomie County offices in Westmoreland are expected to be closed to the public on Wednesday due to damage caused by the tornado. Although the county building was not damaged, power in the city has not yet been restored and “substantial damage cleanup will take place in Westmoreland.”
The National Weather Service in Topeka, Kansas, had issued a tornado warning for an area that included Westmoreland, as well as a severe thunderstorm warning for the region. These storms could bring heavy rain, wind gusts up to 60 to 70 mph, and hail up to two inches or larger in diameter.
National Weather Service crews will head out Wednesday to conduct storm surveys and assess storm damage in areas such as Pottawatomie County.
Westmoreland is a small city located about 55 miles northwest of Topeka, the capital of Kansas. This quiet community has been shaken by this natural disaster, but its residents are resilient and determined to rebuild and recover from this tragedy.