Archive for Sunday, April 26, 2009
Severe weather whirls through area
Storms kill city resident, smash homes; Another round on tap for today
By-passers and area neighbors survey damage to barns, cars and several outbuildings that were razed by a tornado that touched down along Leavenworth County Rd. 25 near I-70 Saturday, April 25, 2009. This was part of the same storm that passed over Lawrence before moving northeast.
April 26, 2009
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Severe weather: Saturday, April 25, 2009
49 Storm Tracker was first to report a tornado on the ground, just south of I-70, near Linwood.
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The series of storms that swept through Northeast Kansas took the life of a Lawrence man Saturday evening.
The storm also left significant damage in southern Leavenworth County, destroying homes, barns and vehicles.
And we may be in store for a repeat performance.
6News meteorologist Matt Elwell said there is a possibility of widespread thunderstorms with the potential for tornadoes this afternoon.
Troy Gentzler, a 45-year-old Lawrence man, was struck by lightning and died in Jefferson County while riding a motorcycle with the group Bikers Against Child Abuse, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said.
Gentzler was struck at mile marker 377 while going eastbound on Highway 24. Another man, 35-year-old Michael Robinson, was also injured by the bolt. He was riding next to the victim. Robinson was transported to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka, where he was treated and released.
In Douglas County, residents spotted clouds with strong rotation, but the storms never touched down, said Bob Newton of Douglas County Emergency Management. One person was injured by lightning while standing on a tower at the Clinton Lake Dam. His injuries were not life-threatening, according to Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.
A home in west Lawrence was struck by lightning, but no damage was reported.
At least one Kansas City-area TV station showed tornado footage that it said was in Douglas County; however, all indications were that the only touchdowns were in Leavenworth County.
Saturday’s stormy weather, which started about 5:45 p.m. and lasted through the night, left the greatest damage along Douglas Road and Leavenworth County Road 25 where a tornado touched down, just a few miles away from Interstate 70.
The tornado was 50 to 75 yards wide and traveled northeast for about nine miles, said Leavenworth Emergency Director Chuck Magaha.
No injuries were reported, but six homes had minor to moderate damage.
In its aftermath, metal debris hung off of power lines, vehicles were flipped over and barns were crushed.
“The tornado went right over our house. It sounded like a freight train,” said Andrea Ford, who lives along Douglas Road. Half of a roof from a nearby barn had landed on her house and ruined her boyfriend’s trailers.
A few miles away, Daniel Oelschlaeger was attending a friend’s surprise 50th birthday party, held in a tent. As he was seeking shelter, he saw the tornado touch the ground.
“The surprise was the tornado,” he said.
A quarter of a mile away, the tornado destroyed three outbuildings, turned over a truck, snapped trees in half and spread debris several hundred yards away.
A house on that property, which was just north of where Leavenworth County Road 25 passes over I-70, had significant damage. Inside, an elderly woman in a wheelchair and her son were able to ride out the storm unharmed, Oelschlaeger said.
Half a mile away, John Wickey saw a small funnel and debris in the air. His house was unharmed, so he decided to check on his neighbors.
“We have never been hit head-on this hard in this area, but it’s been very close,” he said.
Michaela Moore and Angie Moss saw the tornado heading from the southwest when they decided to take cover in their basement with two other adults and five kids.
“It looked like it was coming straight for the house,” Moore said.
Moss’s home along Douglas Road was undamaged, but the barn across the street was destroyed.
“We wondered how it missed this house and took that one,” Moore said. “And how lucky we are.”
And all this could be repeated soon.
With the amount of moisture in the air and a stationary front settling in the region, Elwell said we could see similar weather today.
KTKA 49 ABC News contributed to this report
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26 April 2009
at 6:35 a.m.
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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…
My neighbor and I watched this forming. We live by the turnpike off Kasold. We saw the clouds starting to go all directions and made the comment that THAT was a tornado in the making. Turns out it was. What a sight! I'm just sorry for once that we were right.
Yep, around here, tornado sirens mean go outside!
26 April 2009
at 9:33 a.m.
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1petadvocate (Anonymous) says…
Please……”storm that past over Lawrence” ? Hopefully we will get passed today without further rough weather!
26 April 2009
at 9:41 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
Mentioned in the article, but worth repeating, more of the same today. Probably more active in fact.
26 April 2009
at 9:58 a.m.
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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…
Lots in SW Kansas too, Bob.
26 April 2009
at 10:04 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
9 miles is a long, long distance..think about it. If this would have gone through Lawrence like that.
Think of the horror.
:(
(Think of the green dadaismistic rebuilding horror that might ensue, no matter how appropriate those true methods might be post devastation.)
>8- [
(is that a word?)
26 April 2009
at 10:25 a.m.
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local_interest (Anonymous) says…
@Reality Check
Either you are a troll or ignorant.
I suggest you read up on a Faraday Cage. Pay close attention to the part where a enclosed vehicle is one.
26 April 2009
at 10:28 a.m.
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jazzttt (Anonymous) says…
Hmmm….I know everybody wants to go outside and look, but you ought to be standing at least right at the door of your shelter if a warning is in effect. Here are shots of a couple way outside at the airport, the KU baseball team outside watching, reports of somebody struck by lightning on a TOWER at Clinton Lake, and two motorcyclists struck by lightning, one fatally. Think, people.
26 April 2009
at 12:04 p.m.
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xbusguy (Anonymous) says…
Just got back from Motorcycle ride….. very windy. Glad to be home.