It’s been a week since an EF3 tornado roared through western Barton County, destroying several homes and causing over $600,000 in damages. At the County Commission meeting Monday morning, officials gave an update on the devastating May 16 storm.

“Right now, we are headed into the recovery phase,” Emergency Management Director Amy Miller said. With victims looking for help and the cleanup underway, there is a long road ahead.

The National Weather Service rated the twister as an EF3 with top winds 165 miles per hour. It cut a 300-yard-wide, 27-mile swath from Pawnee Rock to west of Hoisington and prompted the county to declare a state of local disaster emergency Tuesday evening.

There were 10 homes destroyed and many others touched, but only two minor injuries. The storm caused an estimated $658,000 in damage.

Some are asking if there will be federal assistance available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Miller said. “But, that probably won’t happen.”

The plus side is that there wasn’t enough damage to trigger federal aide, she said. However, this is also the downside, at least for those with loses.

“This is a very difficult period for a lot of people,” she said. “It’s a week in, and people just want life to go back to the way it was the morning of, but that’s just not going to happen.”

The United Way of Central Kansas and the Golden Belt Community Foundation have stepped up with funds to help victims, Miller said. These are both local organizations that know what local needs are.

Also, she said she still gets requests from those wanting to help. She said they can call her office (620-793-1919) or County Clerk Donna Zimmerman (620-793-1835) for more information.

Looking at the county’s response to the disaster, “the county should be proud of the employees it has,” Sheriff Brian Bellendir said. “When things got rough, they showed up.”

Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips said his four crews were up into the wee hours Wednesday morning putting up barricades on roads made treacherous by downed power lines and flooding. Many of those barricades remain in place, and more may be placed as flooding continues in some areas.

“There was great communications with the staff,” he said. Bellendir’s deputies and 911 were in constant contact with his personnel about where they were needed.

“The county has to be prepared for any disaster that comes about,” Phillips said. As an example, his department has two trailers fully stocked with barricades and cones for such situations, and both are now empty.

However, due to damage and theft, he will lose about 10 percent of what he sets out on the roads, he said. He has ordered replacements and his shop can make additional signs as needed.

Now his crews are helping removed large trees damaged by the tornado.

In other updates:

• Health Director Shelly Schneider said her staff has administered 100 shots, most of which were for tetanus. 

• With dumping fees waived at the Barton County Landfill for non-commercial storm debris, Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock said they have taken in 71 tons so far, with much more expected. 

He also said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is strongly discouraging property owners from burying debris on their land. It is possible, but the process for a permit is complex.

• The Kansas Department of Transportation has begun removing debris from the Pawnee Rock Historic Site, County Engineer Berry McManaman said. The park is managed by the Kansas State Historical Society.

He also urges those who wish to rebuild to check on floodplain regulations.