RENO COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) – Plevna, the small township about 25 miles west of Hutchinson, experienced heavy destruction from Sunday night’s tornado. The small township of about 85 people took a direct hit from the tornado, with several homes destroyed.

Perhaps one of the hardest hit was the home of Pastor David Green and his wife, Larissa. The Greens said they were huddled underneath the stairs in their basement and “it took about two seconds” for the tornado to pass over them.

On Monday afternoon, Pastor Green and his wife walked through what’s left of their home, still in shock.

“It is hard going through and picking up stuff,” Pastor Green said.

Throughout the small community, children wait, chickens roam without a coop and many work to clean up the damage.

“There is an abundance of volunteers and we’re just incredibly grateful for that,” Pastor Green said.

Plevna resident Ron Hooker provided perspective into how many first responders and volunteers stepped up from beyond the community.

“It was more people here [Sunday] night than there normally is in this town in a month,” he said.

Volunteers from across the state brought everything from food and supplies to construction equipment to clean up the debris.

For Plevna resident Heather King, seeing the support from within and beyond the community is what makes small-town America great.

“This is small-town America. This is what I love about this area is people just come together,” King said. “And this is what community is all about. When there’s a disaster, something unexpected, just having people come in and help out.”

Reno County will open a multi-agency resource center on Tuesday and Wednesday to connect those impacted by the tornado. Help will be available from 4-6 p.m. both days at the Abbyville Community Church.

The Reno County Emergency Management said it expects a damage assessment from the Plevna tornado by Tuesday.

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