Although there was a lot of damage in Hutchinson including at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, car dealerships, and other retailers, there was also considerable tree and structure damage in the city of Pretty Prairie as well.
Pretty Prairie Fire Chief Rick Graber talked with us about Tuesdays storms. He says they estimated winds speeds near 100-mph. Emergency Management Director Bill Guy says that a wind gust of 92-mph was clocked at the golf course in Pretty Prairie.
The trees and limbs damaged by the wind hit the power lines knocked most down, but many power poles were also damaged or destroyed. Westar Energy stated in a news release that they estimated that as many as 22-poles were damaged in Pretty Prairie. Westar had crews from other areas of Kansas to help with the recovery, not only in Reno County, but also Sedgwick County which also suffered a lot of power outages.
The Reno County Chapter of the American Red Cross was also on hand in Pretty Prairie to assist those helping with the cleanup and restoration of power. They had an evening meal for those helping in the community as well as local residents who may still be without power.