This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the big two-day ice storm across Kansas.
At the time, it was the costliest ice storm in Kansas history. Starting in the morning of January 4, 2005, and continuing until the afternoon of Jan. 5, the hideous winter storm coated nearly the entire state with anywhere from a half-inch to two inches of ice.
Although freezing rain was the primary culprit, the situation was magnified by periods of sleet, that in a few areas reached two-inches deep.
The damage to trees, power lines, and power poles was so extensive that many areas in south-central Kansas were without power for one-to-two weeks.
Four people died, as the winter storm caused an estimated $72 million damage, with more than half of the counties in Kansas declared disaster areas. There were multiple deaths of carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators, and another death when an elderly man died while trying to remove downed tree limbs
Many residents were forced to evacuate their homes, seeking refuge in hotels and shelters. Fires posed major problems, ignited primarily by power lines falling onto trees and houses.
In Butler County, the ice storm caused more than $8.5 million in damage; Sedgwick County had $15 million in damage, with half of that in Wichita. Three other counties also had damage in excess of $1 million, including Harvey at $3.3 million, Harper at $1.7 million, and Kingman at $1.2 million.