Tornadoes Come Close to Scott City and Dodge; At Least Two Injured

(westernkansasnews.com) A tornado swept through Scott County and two came dangerously close to Dodge City causing damage Tuesday night.  The funnels were difficult to spot because the storms were wrapped around rain.  

The National Weather Service reported a semi overturned on Highway 50 near Dodge City.  The driver escaped without injury. The highway from Cimarron to Dodge was closed until 9:15 while emergency crews cleared debris from the roadway.  Ford County Sheriff Bill Carr says two women were hurt in the tornado, but both were treated at the hospital and released Wednesday morning.   

Authorities say a total of nine homes were destroyed and hundreds more damaged. The tornadoes cut a 10 mile path of destruction from one end of Ford County to the other.  At its most powerful one of the tornadoes was a half mile wide.

Power poles were knocked down and Victory Electric reports outages in Dodge City, Cimarron, Ingalls and Montezuma.  Crews were still out north of Dodge Wednesday morning.   Cell phone coverage was knocked out too to a number of customers.

Hail as large as golf balls was also reported.  Emergency responders in each county are doing their assessments on the toll these storms have produced. 

*****************************UPDATE****************************

Crews from throughout the are are accessing damage today from Tuesday night’s tornadoes in Southwest Kansas.  The good news Interim Ford County Administrator J.D. Gilbert says both people injured from last night’s tornado have been released from the hospital and would provide a further update later Wednesday on damage sustain from the storm.

Spokesperson Jeri Imgarten with Victory Electric and repair crews surveyed the damage Wednesday morning.

A number of homes were completely destroyed by the tornadoes.

Pictures of hail in Dodge City and tornadoes spotted in Scott County, Dodge City