Storms cause damage in Great Bend

Great Bend residents are cleaning up Monday morning after overnight storms with recorded wind gusts of 80 miles per hour left behind significant damage.

Barton County dispatchers said the damage was widespread, especially along 10th Street, which is the main street in Great Bend. There was also damage to a mobile home park, and we saw a tree that had fallen on an SUV and house. Neighbors said no one lived in the home, and there have been no reports of injuries.

The city said the water plant experienced a drop in pressure below 20 psi due to last night's power outage, but the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said there is no need to boil water at this time.

“We will continue to do routine testing and make sure that water levels are safe for consumption,” said Public Works Director Jason Cauley.

Sunday night's storm left behind a lot of downed limbs and trees. The city said it has opened its gates for residents to take trees and limbs into the burn area. Pickup trucks will be allowed to dump in the burn area and trailers are to continue to dump at the usual spot below.

The city said it will not be picking up trees or limbs from yards. The City Compost site is located at 97 SW 5th Avenue in Great Bend.

Further questions or concerns about the compost site can be directed to Street Superintendent James Giles at

or by calling 620-793-4150.