The cleanup effort continues in Westmoreland after a tornado devastated the town’s northern edge.
Evergy officials say nearly 1,000 customers lost power in the area Tuesday as a result, but by Wednesday morning most of the power had been restored to about 90 percent of the city. Evergy spokesperson Kaley Bohlen…
Water service is also operating normally.
A total of 22 homes were destroyed and 13 damaged, but livable. Five residential outbuildings were also destroyed. The Pottawatomie County Recycling processing building and the Buildings and Grounds office building at 407 Campbell Street were also destroyed. Because of the extent of damage, access to the devastated area is limited. One person died and three others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Residents have been asked to place debris close to the road so that city and county employees, along with volunteers can remove the debris.
Pottawatomie County Public Information Officer Becky Ryan says the Red Cross and Salvation Army are providing shelter at the Westmoreland Community Center and providing food for volunteers and emergency responders helping with cleanup.
One person was killed in Tuesday’s storm along with three others being injured. County officials have identified the fatality as 58-year-old Ann Miller, a long time County resident and Health Department employee. Ryan says that Miller was a “welcome face of the Health Department for many years as well as a good neighbor and a good friend to everyone.”
Volunteers wanting to provide manual labor for cleanup should check in at the Pottawatomie County Justice Center, 108 North 1st Street. Sheriff Shane Jager says donations are also being accepted.
The Caring Community Foundation has set up the Westmoreland Relief Fund. Donations can be made at ccfks.org or dropped off at Farmers State Bank (See below).
Some of the immediate needs include kids clothes, diapers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soaps and shampoos, food and drinks.
