Police and emergency crews respond to storm damage near Pawnee Lake after strong winds swept through the area.

According to weather reports, winds reached speeds of between 70 and 75 miles per hour. The Pawnee County Sheriff has reported that there has been at least one fatality. The victim has not been identified. At least one person is said to have been rescued from an overturned trailer. There are downed power lines and blackouts throughout the city.

Due to damage reported throughout the city, the Pawnee Public Schools district has closed classes for Friday.

Sheriff Darrin Varnell spoke about the damage Thursday evening and said between 80 and 100 first responders were on the scene.

“We have a trailer full of debris heading east from (Pawnee Ake). We’ve had some reports of damage here and there, but other than that trailer, no reports of major damage. Trees are down everywhere, power lines down everywhere, a lot of communities are without power,” Varnell said.

While city officials said the damage could possibly have been caused by a tornado, this has not been confirmed by available weather data. Regardless, the city is urging people to stay in their homes while emergency responders work to identify any affected areas.

“Give us space to work. Try to avoid the lake area for now. Be cautious. If you have to be out there, there will be power crews there trying to restore power to all the homes. And just be very alert when you’re out and about, driving down the road. Try not to run over any live lines or cause any accidents with the rescue crews that are out there,” Varnell said.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.