Ottawa Tornado: Devastation & Recovery

0:00A powerful EF2 tornado ripped through Ottawa, Kansas, just south of Kansas City on the evening of April 13, 2026. It damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, flipped RVs and boats, and slammed a motel off Main Street, leaving roofs gone and rooms exposed. Two welders from Texas who were staying at the Knights Inn came back from their shift to find their room wrecked, with clothes and groceries soaked, and scattered. Nearby, businesses rushed to board up shattered windows, while debris like metal sheds and insulation hung in trees and power lines. Folks in the neighborhood shared stories of the close call. One resident described boarding broken windows to brace for more storms, while a mom from, Florida huddled in a basement with her kids as the twister spun right by a wall green's a block away, leaving everyone shaken but safe. Damage assessments are still underway, with trampolines tangled overhead and homes battered down the street. Clean up looks like it'll drag on for weeks.

1:00United Way volunteers are stepping into help, as the community picks up the pieces and hopes the worst is behind them. This has been Kansas News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story.