2 PM UPDATE: Eastbound U.S. 54/400 lanes have been reopened after being closed because of tornado damage in the Andover area. Westbound lanes of the highway remain closed from 159th on the west to Santa Fe Lake Road on the east. It is unclear when the westbound lanes will reopen.
Police are still not allowing volunteers in the area and they’re asking people to avoid the damaged areas. They’re also asking people not to fly drones in the area.
Only four injuries were reported in the storm, and one person had serious injuries.
Prairie Creek Elementary School has been closed for the rest of the school year. Andover school officials will decide where students will attend classes to finish out the year.
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12:55 PM UPDATE: An estimated 1,000 structures were affected by the Andover tornado. That number is expected to rise. No active gas or water leaks were reported. Crews added that westbound Kellogg into Andover may be closed for the next 2 days.
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10:45 AM UPDATE: Shelter for those displaced by the Andover tornado has moved from St. Vincent de Paul to Wheatland Elementary School located at 15200 E 21st St North in Wichita.
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10:30 AM UPDATE:
Evergy is working to restore power, and is estimating a few dozen are still without electricity in Sedgwick County, while approximately 2,000 are without power in Butler County (See outage map below).
Wichita citizens can take trash and debris to the Brooks C&D Landfill located at 4100 N West St, Wichita, KS 67205. Hours of operation and additional information can be found at https://www.wichita.gov/PWU/Pages/Brooks.aspx.
The Butler County Landfill will offer extended hours and will waive fees for debris cleanup related to the tornado/storm event. Hours of operation will be Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, May 1, 2022, from 12 to 6 p.m. and Monday through Friday, May 2-6, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Butler County Landfill is located at 2963 SW 40th St., El Dorado, KS (the intersection of SW 40th St. ad SW Boyer Rd.)
City of Andover Public Works is also planning to pick up branches/tree limbs placed at the curb.
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8:15 AM UPDATE: Andover Fire Chief, Chad Russell, says there have been no additional injuries from Friday night’s tornado. It’s not believed that anyone is trapped or missing. There were four minor injuries from the storm. One was to a person in a building that was damaged, another involved a person who was leaving a damaged area, and two first responders had minor injuries.
The Andover area is not ready to accept help from volunteers. People are being asked to stay away because of downed powerlines. The best way to help right now is through donations to United Way of the Plains. If you need to report damage to your home, call 211.
United Way of the Plains Donations
Andover residents working to clean up debris have a few options. Tree limbs left curbside will be collected. Any debris can also be taken to the Butler County Landfill. Just tell the attendant you’re from Andover and fees will be waived.
Drivers will need to avoid Highway 54 as crews work to moved downed powerlines. Traffic is being diverted between 159th E. and Santa Fe Lake Road.
The KHP is helping with aerial damage assessment. National Weather Service personnel are headed to Andover to asses tornado damage as well.
Officials in Andover are reporting only minor injuries from Friday night’s tornado.
Andover Fire Chief, Chad Russell said 966 buildings were in the path of the tornado, which started in Sedgwick County and moved into Andover close to 8 p.m. Friday. Some of the damaged or destroyed buildings include homes, but an exact count is not available yet. Heaviest damage is in the area of Harry and Andover Road. The United Way of the Plains is reporting 50 to 100 damaged buildings in Sedgwick County. One serious injury was reported in Sedgwick County.
Andover residents displaced by the tornado can take shelter at St. Vincent DePaul Church at 123 North Andover Road.
Phots from Friday’s storm show heavy damage to the Andover YMCA. A statement says several staff members were in the building when it was hit, but they are all OK. The Y is closed until further notice. A nearby apartment complex was also damaged but no serious injuries have been reported. Emergency personnel in Andover are working to do another assessment Saturday morning.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday, Evergy is show just over 1,100 power outages in the Andover area. These run northeast from the area of 159th and Pawnee, up to Highway 54 and Meadowlark. Around 300 outages are shown in Wichita, mainly in east and southeast parts of the city. Evergy’s outage map can be found and the link below.
Because of downed power lines, Sedgwick County crews set up some barricades overnight. These were at 159th Street and Pawnee (southbound), 159th Street and 31st Street S
(northbound), 143rd Street E and 39th Street S (northbound), 143rd Street E and Pawnee (southbound) and 31st Street S from 127th-159th streets both directions.
In response to several strong storms that moved through Kansas, Governor Kelly declared a State of Disaster Emergency, and state resources are helping with recovery efforts.
Another tornado was reported later Friday evening, near Rosalia. No injuries have been reported from that storm.
