Following a devastating tornado that crashed down in Andover, Kansas, 40 million Americans remain under severe storm threat as two separate weather systems move through over a dozen states.
On Friday a devastating tornado ripped through Kansas leaving the city of Andover with extensive damage as it leveled multiple homes and damaged the Capital Federal Amphitheater and the local YMCA, which saw part of its roof collapse, KWCH reported.
At a Saturday morning press conference Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said that so far there were no reported fatalities and only four people suffered minor injuries.
‘We are still really concerned about those areas in the fire district that we have not…searched yet. That’s our primary objective and that’s where the crews are right now,’ Russell said.
According to the chief, nearly 1,000 buildings were in the tornadoes path but there is still no figure on how many were hit, but that certain homes in the path of the powerful twister have been ‘wiped completely off the foundations.’
According to poweroutage.us hours after the tornado left over 23,000 Kansas residents without power, by noon on Saturday the number dropped to 2,153 residents, as crews worked overtime to restore power.
On Saturday the storm system that passed through the Central Plains will continue moving east and will bring severe weather, including strong winds, hail, and tornadoes, to over a dozen states, CNN reported.
Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain will hit parts of the Plains, Midwest and South well into the week, the Weather Channel reported.
As the storms continue to move into the Midwest on Saturday, it could bring tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and localized flash flooding.
‘Severe thunderstorms associated with a threat for wind damage and isolated large hail are possible on Saturday from the mid-Mississippi Valley northward into the western Great Lakes,’ the Storm Prediction Center said.
On Sunday, severe storms will move further west, threatening parts of West Texas with large hail and wind damage and possible tornadoes.
Storms are expected to develop in eastern New Mexico and Colorado, before moving eastward into Texas and Oklahoma, the Weather Channel reported.
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Wichita firefighters search through debris in Andover, Kansas hours after a devastating tornado ripped through the town
A Wichita firefighter searches a home in Andover which had a car land on top of it following the powerful tornado that , Kan., ripped through the area on Friday evening
‘We are still really concerned about those areas in the fire district that we have not…searched yet,’ Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell said on Saturday as firefighters were pictured searching through the remains of a home in Andover
A massive tornado crashed down in Andover, Kansas on Friday evening as counties throughout the state issued warnings
Three vehicles were tossed in front of the Andover YMCA building, which was left devastated by the tornado
Homes throughout the city were devastated as the tornado passed through. Pictured, a cul de sac ransacked by the storm
Homes in the tornado’s path were heavily damaged, with others completely leveled by the twister
A man is seen coming out of his house and assessing the damage that took down an entire wall and part of the roof
The Andover YMCA also sustained heavy damages as part of its ceiling collapsed as the storm passed through
Storm chaser Reed Timmer captured shocking footage of the tornado from his car as it moved quickly through a residential area in Andover, pulling in an intense amount of debris with it it.
As it intensifies, he panics and yells to someone to ‘go to the apartment complex!’
Other storm chasers and local residents have also captured pictures and video of the storm and aftermath, with one man filming the moment the tornado hit power lines, lighting up the sky in violent flashes of light.
Moments later, the storm chaser reaches the area the tornado passed through, revealing rows of homes devastated by the twister.
Brandon Whipple, mayor of the neighboring Wichita which is providing aid to Andover, said that about 50-100 buildings have been damaged in Andover by the storm.
The Greater Wichita YMCA said that the Andover branch would be closed due to the damages but that none of the employees were hurt in the storm.
‘The Andover YMCA suffered significant damage as a result of the storm that hit the Andover area this evening. We are thankful that all of the staff and members that took shelter at the branch at the time of the storm, were not injured.’
A Snapchat user with the handle Aaryn also captured video of the aftermath in his neighborhood as neighbors came out to check up on each other.
The video shows the houses on the block heavily damaged, with some completely leveled as Aaryn can only say, ‘Oh my god. This whole cul de sac is gone.’
Counties across the state issued tornado warnings on Saturday, with twisters appearing and dissipating throughout Kansas, including Wichita, Sedgwick and Butler.
Andover, which is located in Wichita County, appeared to be the hardest hit area. Neighboring cities have dispatched emergency workers to assist Andover.
A huge tornado was snapped looming menacingly over homes in Andover, Kansas on Friday evening. At least 100 structures were destroyed by the twister, although there have not yet been reports of any injuries
A snapchat user filming the aftermath in his neighbor lamented that his cul de sac was practically gone
Tornadoes were spotted throughout Kansas with the Andover storm traveling through Wichita, Sedgwick and Butler
Friday’s storm comes days after the 31st anniversary of the deadly F5 tornado outbreak that struck Oklahoma and Kansas in 1991.
The deadly storms lasted two days and killed a total of 21 people, 17 of which were in Andover alone.
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