Electrical crews hard at work to repair storm and tornado damage from Sunday night storms

By Jennifer Stultz

Tri-County Tribune Editor

jstultz@cherryroad.com

Predicted tornadoes and severe weather materialized in counties covered by the Tri-County Tribune (Pratt, Kiowa, and Stafford) on May 18, 2025, it just took a bit more time than expected. No fatalities were reported during a three-hour weather event that took place late Sunday night, but rolling thunder, pelting rain blasts, lightning, hail, significant wind gusts and tornadoes were noted. Darkness, due to time of occurrence and the knock-down of more than 400 electrical poles, made identification difficult but the first tornado was reported in Kiowa County just after 9:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service Dodge City confirmed a large and extremely dangerous tornado 10 miles southeast of Mullinville at 9:32 p.m. It was moving northeast at 35 mph. Greensburg area residents were advised to seek shelter immediately. Emergency workers tried to turn traffic around on US Highway 54/400 between 9:45 and 10:30 p.m. at Cullison in Kiowa County as dark low-hanging clouds disguised tornadic activity as predicted by weather service agencies. Storms from the same tornadic cell struck northeastern Stafford County and Plevna in Reno County just after 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

George Jennings, Jr., who lives on the southeastern edge of the City of Greensburg said that he and his wife went to their basement as advised, taking with them their trusty NOA weather radio which helped them stay informed. They emerged from shelter at 10:36 p.m. as an all clear signal was given, thankful (as were all residents of tornado-experienced Greensburg) to have been spared a direct hit this time.

“We had a few tree limbs blown around, a lot of leaves and grass, but Greensburg dodged a bullet,” Jennings said. “We are so thankful.”

He confirmed just a few minutes later that electricity was out for much of the town and the surrounding area. Serviced by Southern Pioneer and Ninnescah Electric companies, electrical outages remained a problem, necessitating the cancellation of school for USD 422 students in Greensburg on Monday, May 19.

On Sunday night, however, the storm that clipped Greensburg went on to wreck havoc elsewhere. Throughout the event, the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings in Cheyenne, Scott, Logan, Gove, Edwards, Pawnee, Kiowa, Stafford, Pratt and Reno Counties on May 18.

Tornado damage was reported several miles south of Greensburg, north of Haviland, further on in Stafford County along a 61 Highway corridor, and in the town of Plevna in Reno County. A tornado touched down around 11:50 p.m. north of Turon, cutting a destructive path through the countryside before striking Plevna. It continued approximately five miles northeast of the city before dissipating, according to a Wichita news station report.

Teresa Miller, general manager of Ninnescah Electric based in Pratt, said that five of the counties affected by the tornadic storm were in their service area, and more than 400 of their electrical poles were down because of the storm.

“This one hit us very hard, all the way through our service areas starting in Kiowa County and up into Reno County,” Miller said. “We have eight lineman who have been working constantly, plus we brought in four more from Sedgwick County, Eldorado/Butler County sent in four lineman, Victory Electric in Dodge City sent eight, and we have our contractor who brought in two big crews to help.”

Miller said she was not able to estimate how many customers in the area were still without power due to the storm damage but there were great advances being made.

“We still have a substation down near Greensburg, but we should have that back online by Wednesday or Thursday. That did not look possible earlier today (on Monday), but that is the beauty of being part of a cooperative. We are getting help.”

Sierra Jacks, a rural resident of Kiowa County, posted on Facebook that their family was also grateful for all the neighbors and friends showing up to help cleanup at their farm, which was hit by the tornado.

“Us three are snuggled in safe for the night and I’m without a doubt holding them close,” she posted late Sunday night. “It’s hard to see our blood, sweat, and tears in shambles but I think I’ve cried more over the amount of people who have simply shown up at our house and at Home Again. Our barn is gone and our house has damage. Our livestock are all seemingly okay. Everything that was lost is replaceable. There’s no way I could possibly return every call and text I received tonight but please know we are so incredibly grateful for you.”

Rest assured, others with damage in the Tri-County Tribune coverage area were also experiencing helpful response from volunteers and emergency crews, and it was all greatly appreciated.

Storm photos by Jennifer Stultz/Tri-County Tribune

• Wellsford Church stands tall on a dark and stormy night in Kiowa County.
• Mangled farm machinery, fences, trees, and cropland showed evidence of the May 18, 2025 tornado path north of Haviland.
• Fire department crews from Haviland respond to a train derailment during the storm last Sunday between Haviland and Pratt.
• Highway traffic is warned about low-hanging tornadic cell clouds on US 54/400 west of Cullison.