2 killed in tornado near Pratt, KS; one man killed by lightning

Friends and family members of Burnard and Colleen Simonson help pick up items on Saturday, May 24, 2008, after a Friday evening tornado destroyed their home west of Cunningham, Kan. No one was injured but the couple survived by huddling in their bath tub and being covered by carpet that blew over them. (AP Photo/The Hutchinson News, Sandra J. Milburn)

Two people from Colorado were found dead in their car in a field east of Pratt Saturday morning, and Osage County authorities were investigating whether a camper was killed by lightning overnight.

Gary S. Whitlow, 33, and Kimberly S. Whitlow, 29, of Rocky Ford, Colo., were pronounced dead at the scene after authorities found their car in a wheat field 150 yards north of U.S. 54, about 13 miles east of Pratt.

The Pratt County Sheriff's Office said the car, barely visible from the road, was destroyed by a tornado that also swept a semi off the highway and knocked down power poles and lines across the road.

In Osage County, the Sheriff's Department said a visitor to Pomona State Park, 30 miles south of Topeka, found the body of a 20-year-old man and three other injured campers Saturday morning.

Deputies told the Topeka Capital-Journal that it is thought that the man, who was camping with friends, was struck by lightning between 1 and 4 a.m., but they and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks were still investigating.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/634959.html

are you?

Hope you are okay. :pals:

My biggest problem is grass that needs mowing and a broken lawn mower. But David just called and he is coming over to mow for us. Gotta get it mowed before the storms roll in tonight, you know. It would be beyond humiliating to have our house flattened by a tornado with unmowed grass in the yard. :)

of the famous Kansas signs David?

How are you doing? It was a wild day yesterday there in the flatlands.

But the bad weather is headed this way.

Today here it is hot and humid.

Watching the OK live feed yesterday was something else. Last night my aging parent was in a watch zone, but all was fine. Sometimes I miss Weather (flatlander moved to pacific northwet). I don't miss the mosquitoes though. Best wishes to all there.

You can tell where my priorities are!

And hey, PM me your address and I can send you some skeeters. We have plenty to spare!

Need to replant 1 set of beans because of them. Bah.