Smithville residents were shocked to see the aftermath from Monday night’s storms.
Police Chief Jason Lockridge said 60 to 70 homes are damaged, and five to six aren't livable. He estimates $1 million in damage.
Severe winds and hail tore through the north side of town, hitting the Diamond Crest neighborhood hard.
The National Weather Service said Smithville was hit by a EF-2 tornado.
Smithville to Lathrop MO tornado rated EF-2. Other tornado surveys ongoing and will be released when available. pic.twitter.com/aGYVxPl1Z4
— NWS Kansas City (@NWSKansasCity) March 7, 2017
The storm ripped off roofs and the sides of homes, leveling some, but completely missing others. One elderly couple was trapped inside their home, but was rescued safely.
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The storm blew one home off its foundation, scattering kitchen cabinets, clothes, ceiling fans, couches, and even hamburger buns down the hill.
A drone flew over damaged homes in Smithville. Watch the video below:
The neighbor can't understand how the storm destroyed that home, but hers is still intact.
"I'm devastated. I mean, it's so close. And they lost everything. Everything. It's so sad," Patty Kiefer said.
She, like many others, said the storm came so quickly.
"I heard a roar like they always tell you. It was like a train was coming, a big train, and then it hit something, and there was a great big boom. I jumped out of bed and went and got Christopher, and was hollering, saying get in the basement, but by that time I think it was too late," Kiefer said.
Just a few houses down, Terry Watson said she was trying to round up her many animals to get to the basement when the storm hit.
"Everything just went, glass busting, and I thought we just lost the windows," Watson said. "I came upstairs and opened my bedroom doors and there's no walls. I don't know. I was just worried about everybody else in the neighborhood. I mean some people lost their entire houses, roofs."
Crews are helping clean up debris, and insurance adjusters were out Tuesday morning.
Cleanup all throughout the community @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/sFTinNxOqX
— Sarah Plake (@SarahPlakeTV) March 7, 2017
No one reported injuries.
"The thing I was most impressed with in the neighborhood that night was watching all the neighbors come together, helping one another out and making sure everyone's OK and assessing what needs to be done," Lockridge said. "Clearing streets, neighbors helping neighbors."
Local restaurant Kozak's was expected to go out in the neighborhood delivering food.
RELATED | Tornado destroys hundreds of homes in Oak Grove
Lockridge asked the public to give the town space before coming to help. The city needs to fully assess the damage, and then they'll let the public know how to help.
"Whether it's lending a hand clearing a tree, whether it's making a donation to a food bank or something like that, in the coming days and weeks there's going to be plenty of opportunities for people to help," Lockridge said.
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Sarah Plake can be reached at Sarah.Plake@KSHB.com
