Roofs Vanished in Shawnee County Storm | Topeka News

Topeka News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 17, 2026 · 1m

Severe storms tore through Shawnee County Friday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction: downed trees, power outages, and roofs ripped off homes. Hal Gray, a longtime Topeka resident, watched in shock as his 40-year-old roof vanished — the sound likened to a freight train, with debris scattered across his yard. Just down the street, Scott Casto faced similar devastation, half his roof landing in his driveway and insulation blanketing his property. Tornado warnings were debated, but for these homeowners, the classification doesn’t matter — they’re focused on rebuilding after losing their…