Tornado causes damage in Independence, Kansas

Thursday night's severe weather did plenty of damage north of the state line in Kansas. <br/><br/>Folks in Independence, Kansas were picking up the pieces Friday after a tornado blew through that

Friday, March 31st 2006, 12:34 pm

By: News On 6

Thursday night's severe weather did plenty of damage north of the state line in Kansas.

Folks in Independence, Kansas were picking up the pieces Friday after a tornado blew through that community. The storm sent pieces of metal barns and silos flying.

The storm stayed away from the city limits and only hit a few homes north of town. Residents say one mobile home was destroyed and there was major damage to another family's house.

Rex Heape grew up in that home. His folks had lived in the house for 48 years, and were the only ones home when the storm hit.

"It's pretty sad, you know, because like I said, there was 48 years of our family being here and a lot of memories in this house."

But that wasn't the Heapes' biggest loss. Rex's father was caught outside in the storm. He was struck by debris, and had to be flown by helicopter to a Wichita hospital with head injuries.

Rex says he thinks his dad is doing alright, but he still has a battle in front of him.