Tornado Leaves Overwhelming Damage In Baxter Springs

The same tornado that hit Quapaw on Sunday also barreled through Baxter Springs, Kansas. The weather service has rated that twister an EF-2 as well.

Residents have started the slow process of cleaning up.

The scene here can really be overwhelming. Homes that were standing only a day ago now have their walls fallen and roofs gone.

The Southeast Kansas Incident Management team says Sunday's tornado injured 25 people with nine of those going to the hospital. None of the injuries are life threatening.

More than a hundred homes and around a dozen businesses were damaged during the storm. The tornado toppled over trees, ripped the roofs of buildings, and sent debris flying practically everywhere.

4/28/2014 Related Story: Tornado Injures 25 People In Southeast Kansas

Theresa Ruple survived the storm in a closet under her stairwell. She says she could feel the tornado tear at her home as it passed overhead.

"I crawled in there and then, I was trying to get my dogs to come in and they wouldn't," Ruple said.

"The house started shaking, and then everything sort of fell on top of me. I couldn't get out of the house until they came and got me."

The Southeast Kansas Incident Management team says anyone who wants volunteer must register first; that's being done at the high school.

Any donations of food or water can be dropped off at the community center at 11th and East Avenue in Baxter Springs.