Around 2 dozen homes were considered to be destroyed around Westmoreland, Kansas, as the twister rolled through Pottawatomie County on Tuesday.
WESTMORELAND, Kan. – A Kansas man recorded incredible video showing a deadly EF-3 tornado spinning right above him in the town of Westmoreland as dirt and debris were being lofted into the air on Tuesday afternoon.
The deadly event occurred as severe weather pushed through regions of the Plains and Midwest that were hit hard by a deadly tornado outbreak last weekend.
KANSAS TORNADO LEAVES 1 DEAD, DESTROYS HOMES DURING MULTIDAY SEVERE WEATHER EVENT
Video recorded by Buster Schmitz shows debris flying through the air as a large funnel cloud forms overhead during a tornado in Westmoreland, Kansas, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
The dramatic video was recorded by Buster Schmitz, who said he was at a convenience store grabbing soda for his drive home when the storm struck. He said he heard the tornado sirens wailing and knew a tornado had to be close.
And when he looked up, that’s when he said he saw the funnel swirling right above his head.
The video shows dirt and debris being sucked up by the tornado before it pans up, showing the long, rope tornado swirling high into the clouds.
‘HOLD ON’: WATCH AS TRAIN IS CAUGHT IN PATH OF NEBRASKA EF-3 TORNADO
Video recorded by Buster Schmitz shows a large funnel cloud spinning through the air in Westmoreland, Kansas, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
He said he then left that area and drove a few blocks away, where he captured another video of the funnel cloud swirling above him.
Again he panned the video higher into the sky, showing how far into the air the clouds were swirling above him.
SEE IT: TORNADO TOSSES HUGE DEBRIS AT STORM CHASING FAMILY IN OKLAHOMA
1 dead, nearly two dozen homes destroyed in Westmoreland
At least one person was killed in the town of Westmoreland in Kansas on Tuesday when a tornado ripped through the community, and now cleanup efforts are underway after nearly two dozen homes were destroyed.
The hardest-hit region appeared to be in Pottawatomie County, where officials confirmed the death and injuries in the town of Westmoreland.
Damage in the Kansas town was considerable, with county officials saying nearly two dozen homes were destroyed, and another 13 homes were damaged by the tornado. At least one commercial building was also damaged during the extreme weather event.
The National Weather Service determined the twister was an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale and packed winds up to 140 mph.
RARE ‘BACKWARD-SPINNING’ TORNADO AMONG TWISTERS WREAKING HAVOC IN OKLAHOMA TUESDAY
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Tornado damage in Westmoreland, Kansas (Kucheras BBQ)
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Tornado damage in Westmoreland, Kansas (Kucheras BBQ)
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Tornado damage in Westmoreland, Kansas (Kucheras BBQ)
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Tornado impacts Westmoreland, Kansas on 4/30/2024 (Sarah Nicole)
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A tornado is seen near Westmoreland, Kansas, on April 30, 2024. (Jeremy Chavis/Facebook)
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This image shows a tornado in Westmoreland, Kansas, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Buster Schmitz via Storyful)
Pottawatomie County Sheriff Shane Jager said a curfew was enacted Tuesday night, and the cleanup from the storm could take days.
A shelter was also opened for residents impacted by the storm.