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Newspaper
Ottawa Herald
Location
Ottawa, Kansas, United States of America
Date
May 21, 1957
Page
7
A National Guard aircraft first sighted the tornado that hit Franklin County. Police and sheriff units aided Ottawa response, rerouting traffic around wires, with emergency power and radio repairs by Dr. W D Bemmels. The telephone company activated emergency circuits as damage spread toward Kan sas City.
Roland Hind of Hartford recounts racing a tornado with a moving truck and a police radio unit. Amateur radio operators from Ottawa Baldwin and Lawrence aided the relay effort as the storm passed, leaving Hind with minor injuries but alive.
Ottawa High School and Ottawa University students joined residents in relief efforts south of town. Police Chief Eugene Flaherty said volunteers at police headquarters exceeded 100, with about 15 older high school boys and roughly 20 university students among those who turned up after the storm. Neighbors reported many more friends who came to help.
In Ruskin Heights Kansas City a tornado hit the R B Cook home lacking a basement. The family huddled in an overstuffed chair as the tornado ripped the house apart piling debris and even blowing a refrigerator into the room. Mr Cook received a superficial head wound. no other injuries were reported.
Deputy coroner Joe Connors described looting at the damaged Ruskin Heights shopping center noting people carried out goods from a drug store and supermarket. He recalled scenes of desperate grabbing as responders arrived at the scene.
Roosevelt Wall ace a 29 year old Topeka man and father of seven was killed by a lightning strike while working in a field. He had moved to Topeka from Porter Oklahoma about three years ago and was employed by a local nursery.
Ham radio operators aided police by deploying mobile units in ten automobiles reported to police headquarters shortly after the tornado struck, volunteering their services to aid in the emergency response.
President Eisenhower announced one million dollars in disaster relief funds for Oklahoma. The aid targets areas affected by floods hail and high winds and was communicated to Governor Raymond Gary by the White House.
Kansas Guard Headquarters Battery of the 67th Field Artillery was ordered out by State Adjutant General Joe Nichols. Forty three members manned traffic control and guard duties along US 50 and US 59 and assisted in disaster cleanup near Ottawa. Mayor Henneth Andrews urged civil defense aid, noting congestion from curious onlookers and calling for trained units to bolster warning and response. The mayor and officials remained on duty through the night.
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