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CNN Sunday Morning

Tornado Sweeps Through Kansas

Aired April 22, 2001 - 07:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Back to our story, once again, we're going to go for the latest on that tornado that swept through Kansas. Hoisington City Manager Allen Dinkel joins us now by telephone.

Mr. Dinkel, could you tell us the latest with regard to injuries and deaths at this point?

ALLEN DINKEL, CITY MANAGER: At this point in time, there's been no change. We have one confirmed death and 26 injured people who were taken to the hospital. Three of those were taken -- they were taken to Great Ben, which is about 10 miles south of here. Three of those patients were then taken to Wichita, Kansas -- a bustling hospital there with more severe injuries.

PHILLIPS: We're seeing the pictures, Mr. Dinkel and some of the videotape. Can you tell us the extent of how this twister did impact your town? I understand about 3,000 people, correct?

DINKEL: Yes, ma'am. I -- basically, I mentioned earlier that our town is a mile and a fourth from west to east. And basically, we had a swath of about a 1,000 to 1,500 feet wide just go down through what I would call the north -- central to the north central part of time, just right down through there. There's a lot of houses damaged, missing, gone. Of course, the whole area's been sealed off by law enforcement. Everybody has, you know -- has been taken out of those areas at this time and until assessment team can come in.

At 7:30 this morning, there will be three teams of -- including the ambulance people, dog -- cadaver dog, heavy equipment operators, KBI, Kansas Highway Patrol, fire and local law enforcement that will sweep the area. And then after that, there will be a process of allowing homeowner residents to move -- to go back in the area for a short period of time until more assessment can be made.

PHILLIPS: So had there been reports of people that are missing at this point?

DINKEL: Well, it's tough to tell. I mean, personally, I was out of town when this happened so you don't know if they were out of town or there. And so there's a lot of questions up in the air yet. And it's just a safe precaution that we -- that they're doing to make sure that everybody is, you know, accounted for. But it's going to be a process because you have no idea where they were this weekend -- you know, were they at home or were they out of town. PHILLIPS: That's true. What are your needs right now? A lot of people see coverage like this and want to respond. Could you tell us your immediate needs and the type of help that you need right now?

DINKEL: Well, the first thing we need is prayer. And we're a Christian community and I think that's the first thing to gather together the community and start the healing process.

We have been declared a disaster declaration already and state of emergency. So those issues can happen here. You know, we're going to need a lot of -- I mean we have a lot of people that are going to be homeless.

You know, my guesstimate at this time is we have probably 300 to 400 homes that are damaged and that might even be a low number. And so, I mean, you know, it's really tough to say what we need right now other than -- and then just this thought of everybody in the nation.

PHILLIPS: I know a lot of people will be praying for you. City Manager Allen Dinkel thanks so much for joining us this morning.

DINKEL: Thank you ma'am.

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