By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar said Thursday afternoon there are lots of damage reports, but relative to what went through on Wednesday, most are not significant.
"A lot of roofs on outbuildings have been blown off," Weishaar said. "We have two structures that I am aware of that have significant damage due to large trees falling on them, and still some power lines down or power poles that are being worked on. There's a lot of power poles, but other than that, it's pretty minor damage."
Weishaar praised the first responders for getting to potential fire and damage scenes right away and limiting the storm's impact.
"They were jumping on calls as soon as they came out," Weishaar said. "That stopped a lot of the fire progression, what could have been some catastrophic loss, so we've got to give a lot of credit to those guys."
Given the widespread damage in parts of northwest Kansas, it is remarkable how well local folks worked together, and dispatch was amazing, as well.
"It was great," Weishaar said. "Everyone worked together as a team and that's what you've got to do. There was probably over 100 calls holding at one point in time and it's just methodical going through and making sure each one of those gets answered."
The highest Hutchinson wind gust was 84 miles per hour at the airport.