Tornado tears through Kansas town

This overturned car is part of the damage a tornado left behind in Hoisington, Kansas

HOISINGTON, Kansas (CNN) -- A tornado cut through this Kansas town Saturday night, killing at least one person and injuring 26.

Residents didn't have much warning, said City Manager Allen Dinkel. The tornado "just poured out of the sky," he said.

The twister damaged about 20 percent of the town. "My guess is that we've had 300 to 400 homes damaged," Dinkel told CNN. The town of about 3,100 people is only about one and a fourth miles long east to west, and the tornado made its path directly through the middle of town, Dinkel said.

Of the 26 taken to an area hospital, three had serious injuries requiring transfer to a hospital in Wichita, Kansas, Dinkel said.

The tornado ripped off the roof of the hospital after it had been evacuated. And the roof of the high school gymnasium collapsed. No one was in the school at that time.

Neighboring towns have helped police and fire officials look through the damage for survivors. Dinkel said that the city's crews could not react quickly because the wind blew nails into the tires of the city's trucks.

The city has quarantined certain homes that have been severely damaged. Residents of those homes are being taken to a shelter and will be allowed back in their homes to try to salvage their belongings as soon as the homes have been secured.

Power was knocked out for most of the town.

Dinkel tells CNN that he and his family were out of town at a wedding when the tornado hit. As soon as he got word of the tornado he rushed home. Dinkel says his attached garage is no longer attached.

"It just makes you want to cry. It's devastating," said Dinkel.

Two killed as tornadoes spread across Midwest
April 11, 2001

The National Weather Service

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.