Clean up efforts begin following downburst in Hutchinson

Clean up efforts began Saturday morning after a 79 mph downburst caused serious damage in Hutchinson.

Debris and trees lined the streets prompting a city wide clean up.

"There was only rain on the radar so I was listening to it, watching the lightning thinking no big deal and within just minutes it hit like a freight train, " says Golden Coker.

Coker thought it was just a normal thunderstorm until she went outside to get a toy for her daughter.

"It was black, when i came outside there was no power on no nothing"

Vernetta Rogers owns bills appliance and has lived next to her business of 29 years. She says a loud crash woke her up.

"I woke up at about a quarter to one and heard this terrible boom and thought somebody had drove into my building. I opened up my sliding glass doors to look and half of my roof was in my front yard."

Rogers estimates the repairs to her building will cost over $100,000.

Residents say the storm came in quick and they are shocked at the amount of damage to the city.

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Residents in Hutchinson are cleaning up after a downburst caused damage overnight.

It happened between 12:30 and 1:00 Saturday morning.

Eyewitness News has heard from several residents who reported damage to their trees and property.

One viewer said it felt like a very quick tornado.

Storm Team 12 Chief Meteorologist Ross Janssen says a blast of 79 mile per hour wind was reported at Hutchinson Regional Airport.

Thousands were without power overnight, but that number dipped down into the hundreds by mid-morning. Westar said they expect to have power restored to everyone by Saturday afternoon.