We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

After Kansas tornado, residents "lucky to be alive."

Tornado damage in north central Kansas -photo Kansas Division of Emergency Management
Tornado damage in north central Kansas -photo Kansas Division of Emergency Management

CHAPMAN, Kan. (AP) — Residents in northern Kansas are cleaning up the damage from an EF4 tornado that ripped through the rural area earlier this week.

Tom and Janet Whitehair’s Dickinson County home was among about 20 homes damaged or destroyed by the half-mile-wide tornado that was on the ground for about 90 minutes Wednesday night. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported.

Whitehair told the Topeka Capital-Journal he and his wife are “lucky to be alive.”

The National Weather Service says the tornado had wind speeds up to 180 mph. Most of the damage was in Dickinson County, but two homes were also damaged in Ottawa County, where the twister began.

Dickinson County administrator Brad Homman says some residents had minor injuries, and ranchers are also reporting missing livestock, horses and pets.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File