MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A line of thunderstorms swept through central Kansas Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain, damaging wind gusts and scattered storm damage across the region, including downed power lines, tree damage and the collapse of a fireworks tent.
The strongest wind gust reported in the area was 74 mph at Hutchinson Regional Airport, according to storm reports. Other significant wind gusts included 60 mph east of Hutchinson, 60 mph in Inman, and 60 mph northwest of Halstead.
Storm damage was also reported in several communities. Emergency managers reported wind damage in Moundridge, while law enforcement reported storm damage in Newton.
In Hutchinson, the storms left behind scattered tree damage and utility issues. Hutchinson Fire Department Division Chief of Operations Jason Holzrichter said firefighters responded to multiple calls involving downed power lines as the storms moved through the city. Several areas on the north side of Hutchinson also saw tree limbs brought down by the strong winds.
The severe winds also destroyed a fireworks tent located on 30th Avenue just east of Lorraine Street.
Employees were inside the sales tent when they heard the wind rapidly intensify.
"I looked at my fiancée and said, 'Do you hear that wind pick up?' We went outside, and the next thing you know, all the stakes just started popping. Within about 20 seconds, the tent was up, and it was down. Then the rain started," Taylor Martin, the manager of the fireworks company, said.
Despite the collapse, no one was injured.
"Nobody was hurt," Martin said. "We're kind of in the process of salvaging what we can, then we're going to disperse it to some of our other stands."
While the tent itself was destroyed, the employee said many of the larger fireworks were saved.
"The total loss hasn't been terrible. We were able to salvage a lot of our bigger cakes and mortars," said Taylor.