(UTV | ANDOVER) – In a briefing from emergency officials in Andover, the city’s fire chief, Chad Russell said there were 966 buildings in a tornado’s path from where it began in Sedgwick County, into the City of Andover and across the county line into Butler County.
Chief Russell confirmed some neighborhood homes were destroyed, but did not yet have a total on the number of structures damaged or destroyed. Earlier Friday night, the United Way of the Plains reported 50 to 100 structures damaged, just in Sedgwick County.
What started as a funnel, eventually touching down as a small rope tornado near Andover Friday night gained momentum and grew to a large cone that caused extensive damage throughout the Wichita suburb.
Confirmed damage included destruction of homes, extensive damage to the Capital Federal Amphitheater in Andover Central Park, as well as at least minor damage to Andover City Hall and Andover Central High School.
A firefighter at a scene near East 31st Street South and South 137th Street East confirmed one serious, but non-life-threatening injury in that neighborhood.
The tornado that slammed Andover came with a powerful storm that continued to trek northeast. A tornado was also confirmed near Rosalia, about 16 miles east of El Dorado.