Severe storms knock out power for thousands in Kansas City region

Utility crews prepare to restore electricity as state of emergency declared

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:55pm

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A dramatic landscape painting in muted tones of gray and blue, with a lone utility pole standing in the foreground against a stormy, cloud-filled sky, symbolizing the widespread power outages caused by the severe weather.The sweeping, atmospheric power of a severe storm system leaves thousands without electricity in the Kansas City region.Kansas City Today

Thousands of residents in the Kansas City metro area on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas border are without power due to severe storms moving through the region on Friday. Over 5,500 customers are reported to be without electricity in Kansas, while more than 3,200 are affected in Missouri. Utility company Evergy has announced that crews are prepared to begin restoring power, and the Missouri governor has issued a state of emergency to allow state agencies to assist local municipalities.

Why it matters

Power outages can have significant impacts on communities, affecting critical infrastructure, businesses, and daily life. The severe storms moving through the Kansas City area are part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events that have become more frequent and intense due to climate change, underscoring the need for resilient power grids and emergency preparedness.

The details

The power outages were reported around 5 p.m. on Friday, with over 5,500 customers affected in Kansas and more than 3,200 in Missouri. Utility company Evergy has said its crews are prepared to begin restoring power, and Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has issued a state of emergency for the entire state, allowing state agencies to assist local municipalities with the response.

  • The power outages were reported around 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Earlier on Friday afternoon, Evergy announced that crews were prepped to begin work restoring power.

The players

Evergy

A utility company that provides electricity to customers in Kansas and Missouri, including the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Mike Kehoe

The Governor of Missouri, who issued a state of emergency to allow state agencies to assist local municipalities with the response to the power outages.

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What they’re saying

“Crews are prepped to begin work restoring power for those without.”

— Evergy

What’s next

Evergy crews will continue working to restore power to affected customers, and state agencies will provide assistance to local municipalities as needed.

The takeaway

The severe storms in the Kansas City region have caused widespread power outages, highlighting the vulnerability of the power grid to extreme weather events. This incident underscores the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure and emergency preparedness to ensure communities can withstand the impacts of climate change.