Authorities in Dickinson County have begun damage assessment following the storms Monday evening.

Chancey Smith, Dickinson County Emergency Management Director, said in the 1700 and Eden Road area numerous power poles are down for approximately  two to three miles. They were snapped off at the ground. “So I’m sure of people in that area are without power. One farmstead I know, the structure was destroyed with the family inside. And we had one injury I know from there that needed stitches.” That was the four-member Travis Bartley farmstead.

Elsewhere, Smith noted a new horse barn closer to K-15 and 1700 was destroyed, and power lines broken over at Jeep Road and 200 Avenue.

“It’s kind of widespread so I’m excited for the National Weather Service to get here and tell me exactly what we did have go through here, because they keep saying they’re almost positive it wasn’t a tornado.”

There was also damage on the south side of Abilene. “They do have quite a bit of wind damage down there….trees, out buildings, sheds broke, an old shop down there got the roof lifted off it, and a bunch of installation was blown out in the field out there. “There was also some damage to a Westar Energy building, but no damage to living structures.

Smith indicated National Weather Service officials will be in to review what caused the storm.