One dead, three hurt after tornado strikes Westmoreland

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY (KSNT) - As of 9:45 p.m., the entirety of Westmoreland is without electrical power. County offices are running on emergency generators. Becky Ryan, the Pottawatomie County Public Information Officer said Evergy and Kansas Gas Service are in town working to restore services safely.

Pottawatomie County is accepting donations at the Westmoreland Community Center, 201 Main Street at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 1.

One person is confirmed dead and three hurt after a tornado hit Westmoreland Tuesday afternoon.

According to Ryan, one person was killed when a tornado that hit Westmoreland. At a news conference Tuesday evening, the she confirmed that three Westmoreland residents are being treated for serious injuries.

Pottawatomie County officials say five outbuildings and 22 houses in the north part of Westmoreland are destroyed or deemed "unlivable", and an estimates three RV's that were at an RV park after the tornado. An additional 13 residences and a commercial building were damaged.

A temporary shelter is now open at Rock Creek High School for residents who are displaced. The American Red Cross is operating the shelter. The Salvation Army will also be responding to help care for the emergency responders.

A 9:30 p.m. curfew has been issued for the town of Westmoreland to increase public safety. Tri-County Waste announced will not be removing trash in Westmoreland Wednesday, May 1 and for an unknown time frame.

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