Chapman, Kansas and Manhattan, Kansas Tornado

My mothers boy friend/partner/best friend lives in Chapman, Kansas and my youngest daughter lives in Manhattan, Kansas. The night the tornado's came through Kansas was a scary one indeed. We were getting ready for bed when the sirens sounded in Junction City. I was in the shower with a head full of shampoo. My husband told me to finish up quickly and he went to turn on the radio. I finished, got dressed and turned on the bathroom radio. I was listening to our local station, KJCK ,and he was listening to the Manhattan station, KROCK. At about 10:30pm both stations announced a funnel cloud had been spotted near Hope, Kansas. This is where my mother lives. I called and woke her. She was unaware anything was happening. Then her sirens went off. She had two of her grandchildren spending quality time with her and she went to wake them and head to shelter. I called her again at about 11:00 and she was with her cellphone and my niece and nephew in her closet frantic because she could not get a call through to her friend. in Chapman. Unbeknown-st to us by then the twister had destroyed much of Chapman, Kansas and was heading into Manhattan. I told my mom to stay in hiding until 11:30 as that was when the alert was to end. No need to take any chances and she agreed. My little niece and nephew were so frightened due to an earlier event. A hale storm had gone through and downed many trees and power lines just months earlier when they were living in the town of Milford and a tree fell onto their trailer. No-one was hurt but that event has instilled fear in their little minds. My brother and sister-in-law, the kids parents, came to our house soon after hearing the siren go off. A trailer is no place to be during a heavy storm of this magnitude. My niece and nephew seemed relived to know their mommy and daddy were at my house with a basement to go to and not in their trailer home. We waited and watched together from 11:00 until just after midnight.

Our town was lucky we had very little damage from the storm. Chapman and Manhattan however we not. Chapman is a quiet, sleepy little town where many families know each other and care for each others children. My husband and I have volunteered with the Cub Scout Pack there over the last 5 years and the Boy Scout Troop over the last 3 years. Too know so many families and to start hearing of the devastating results of that horrible night is heart breaking. The first familiar view I saw was of the Methodist Church. This is the meeting place for the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Chapman. With the Pastor's home directly across the street I knew it must have sustained damages even before seeing the photographs. My sister sent me an Internet link to KAKE with a video of the town and to see the homes and schools destroyed is heartbreaking. News was received immediately that the Emergency Management early responders were en route from our town and many others. The Kansas National Guard was also sent. Over the next few days I slowly started receiving phone calls and e-mails from friends in Chapman. To read or hear "we are OK" was the sweetest thing. God did protect so many that night.

Mom's friend came through the storm well, his house is untouched and yet just 1 block away homes are destroyed or with missing roofs. He left town to go to work the next morning and when he tried to return he found it very difficult to get in. Measures are being taken to prevent "gawkers" and "looters" from entering the town. He was finally able to prove he was a homeowner and that he just wanted to get some belongings and leave. The town has no power, and water is unsafe at this time. They are under a "boil water" order. It is to be expected. Many who's homes were unharmed are staying to help neighbors or taking their families out to shelters because of no power. It is good to know that the security in Chapman, Kansas is strong at this time. The Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army and Emergency Management teams are all there. I want to be there too but the news says don't come, we have all the volunteers we can handle at this time. I am sure there will be a time that I will go and find and hug those so dear to me in Chapman and roll up my sleeves and help wherever needed. until then I can only pray for them and ask that those of you reading this pray too.

As for Manhattan, Kansas. My daughter called me from her cell phone several times that night. Her and my son-in-law work in the same factory. They were all taken to a safe room and waited for the all clear. We relayed messages back and forth to each as to the where abouts of family and friends. I once tried to discourage owning a cell phone and am now so grateful to have had that contact with her and others in the family. My daughter is an amazing young woman. Her voice was steady as a rock throughout that brief time even knowing the twister was in Manhattan. I realize now she was calming me when it should have been the other way around. I was so relieved when I received word that the storm was over and the tornado had only hit the opposite side of town from where my daughter works and lives. The tornado had lost momentum by the time it hit Manhattan and yet it still destroyed many businesses, homes and parts of Kansas State University. Never have I felt it so real, so close to home. To see and here of the destruction this tornado did to Chapman and Manhattan, Kansas and to be told this one was not as strong as the one that destroyed Greensburg, Kansas is alarming. To think that the devastation could have been worse. The past few years have not been good for Kansas. Mother nature has flung her furry far and wide. But we are a resilient people. Greensburg is rebuilding and Chapman and Manhattan will rebuild too. We will roll up[our sleeves and be there to help one another as needed. Neighbors will become friends, friends and families will become closer. Kansans will survive and rebuild, we have too, this is our home.