MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Strong overnight storms packing winds nearing 100 miles per hour swept through south-central Kansas early Tuesday morning, leaving widespread damage and thousands without power.
As of 10 a.m., Evergy reported approximately 1,281 customers in the Hutchinson area were without electricity, while a total of 30,000 customers across the utility's southern service area remain affected. Wichita is reported to have suffered the heaviest impacts.
In a statement, Evergy said crews are working throughout the day to assess storm damage and begin restoring power. “Estimated restoration times are currently delayed while assessments continue,” the company said, urging residents to avoid downed power lines and report them immediately by calling 911.
LINK - Severe weather threat for today
The Hutchinson Fire Department has been responding to multiple calls since early morning. Jeremy Unruh the department's Division Chief of Operations said that they responded to 27 weather calls between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Their day began with a structure fire in the 2800 block of Pama Lou Avenue, where firefighters battled not only flames but also wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and heavy rainfall.
Around 8 a.m., crews responded to a gas leak in the 2500 block of Briarwood Lane after a large tree fell on a gas meter. The home was evacuated, and Kansas Gas Service quickly shut off the gas supply.
The Hutchinson Regional Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 89 mph shortly before 4 a.m., part of the larger storm system that downed tree limbs, damaged structures, and triggered scattered outages across Reno County.
Authorities urge residents to check on neighbors, remain clear of hazardous areas, and track outage updates or report issues via Evergy’s outage map or mobile app.