Storn Damages

The wind has just been HORRENDOUS in Western Kansas this year. I have lived here all of my 49 years and I cannot think of any time that we had so much blowing here! The past couple of evenings have had reddish pink skies. I've been told that that is caused by all of the dirt in the air. I believe it! Maybe I am wrong but I think more people are having serious problems with their allergies, sinuses and colds than normal at this time of the year. I know that our family has! My asthma has definitely been better than it is right now.

I spoke to a lady who lives in Shallow Water which is just a few miles straight south of Scott City today. She told me that they had alerts from their radio telling them that the wind speeds were OVER 70 mph last night! Some rural residents lost their electrical power for a time. They awakened to a multitude of trash dumpsters all over town this morning. It seemed like everything that was not tied down, took flight overnight.

A truckdriver who was in Southern Scott County last night told me that he had to park his truck for more than a half hour last night because of all of the dust in the hair. For the first time in his life )all which were spent in Western Kansas) he actually saw corn cobs 12-15 feet above ground level! He was concerned that there may have been a small tornado in the area.

Other people told me that they pulled their cars over to what they hoped was the side of the road until the winds and dirt died down.

Large tree branches were ripped from their trees and blown all over the place.

It is now 11:45 p.m., CDT and the wind is still blowing--quickly.

VLE-B