'It just happened so fast': Belton residents recount possible tornado Friday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A possible tornado struck parts of Belton on Friday night, leaving damage to homes and power outages in its wake.

The National Weather Service reported a tornado around 5:15 p.m. in the area of Interstate 49 and Missouri Highway 58.

Belton officials provided an update on the storm's response in a press conference around 7:30 p.m. Friday. You can watch in the video player below.

KSHB 41 News viewer Maddie Martin shared a video showing the possible tornado from near 203rd Street and Prospect.

KSHB 41 News reporter Fernanda Silva found damage to roofs of homes and trees downed on Colbern Drive.

Whitney Benson was home with her six-month old baby when the storm tore the roof off her house.

KSHB

"Everything is in there,” Benson said, as she was picking up her belongings inside. “It just happened so fast. I closed my front door and felt it coming at us, and then my roof was gone.”

She said the moment was terrifying.

“It was very scary, making sure my baby was okay, making sure my dogs were okay," Benson said.

Many neighbors felt the storm's impact.

KSHB

“I sounded like a train horn going over us and loud bangs and stuff and stuff flying everywhere," Xander Burnett said.

"It was just fast and quick, but it did a lot of damage," Leroy Hilton said.

KSHB

After the storm passed, neighbors came outside to help clear the downed trees across Colbern Drive.

"I need to get out and do something. I had chainsaws, so I thought I'd come out and help," Joseph Clary said. "I'm just glad nobody was hurt."

KSHB

One of the fallen trees landed on Scott Varga’s car.

"I cleared it out a lot, but I mean, I couldn't walk outside," Vargas said. "I had to cut our way out pretty much."

Varga said neighbors offered him a helping hand.

"I felt very, very helped. I mean, I had a huge amount of people that came to me, Varga said. "I just felt like maybe other people needed more help than me."

"That's what community is for, you know, just get to work, help each other out," Hilton said.

KSHB

"I just feel bad for everybody, it takes a while to get all that stuff," said Landen Jones.

As of 6 p.m. Friday, Evergy reported more than 4,000 customers without power.

As of 7 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff's Office was blocking S. Mullen Road near 58 Highway to Cambridge Road and Kent Drive due to downed power lines.

City officials have been providing updates on the city's Facebook page. There is a storm shelter open at Belton High School 801 W. North Avenue.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Provided to KSHB 41

Provided to KSHB 41

Provided to KSHB 41

Provided to KSHB 41

—