WICHITA, Kan. — A multi-day tornado outbreak across the central plains in early April 2026 produced more than 60 confirmed tornadoes, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 200, as a powerful low-pressure system tracked northeast through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
The outbreak, which the National Weather Service described as one of the most significant tornado events in the region since 2011, included three EF-3 tornadoes and one EF-4 tornado that cut a 22-mile path through a rural area of central Kansas, destroying or severely damaging more than 400 structures.
FEMA activated its National Response Coordination Center and deployed Urban Search and Rescue teams to the affected areas within hours of the outbreak. President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Kansas and Oklahoma within 48 hours, making federal assistance available to affected homeowners and businesses.
Restoration contractors from across the region mobilized to the affected areas, with the Restoration Industry Association activating its disaster response network to coordinate the deployment of equipment and personnel. Contractors reported that the scale of the damage — spread across multiple counties in three states — was straining the available workforce.
The outbreak highlighted the importance of storm shelter availability in rural areas. FEMA data shows that only 23 percent of rural homes in the affected counties have an approved storm shelter or safe room, compared to 41 percent in urban areas. The agency is accelerating its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for storm shelter construction in the region.
