Residents of a small Kansas town devastated by a tornado will be allowed back to the remains of their homes Monday as searchers continue to look for more survivors.

At least eight people died when a powerful tornado ripped through Greensburg Friday night. The U.S. National Weather Service classified the tornado as an F-5, the highest category on its scale.

Two more people died in other parts of the state and dozens were injured along the storm front.

Fresh search and rescue dogs were to be brought in to Greensburg Monday as officials planned to allow the community's roughly 1,500 residents back into the town.

People were ordered out of the town on Saturday as searchers combed through the wreckage with search dogs and flashlights, concerned some are trapped in basements.

Town curfew

Since the tornado hit, emergency responders have had little indication of how many people in this south-central Kansas town might be safely staying with friends or relatives, rather than in shelters in nearby communities.

Police will be checking identifications and making a list of people who are still missing. Residents will be allowed to stay in town until 6 p.m. local time.

Every business on Greensburg's main street was demolished and officials estimate as much as 95 per cent of the town was destroyed.

City administrator Steve Hewitt said getting the municipal government up and running again was his first priority, while officials try to restore basic infrastructure like power and water.

Equipment in Iraq

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday evening that the state's response could be slowed down because much of the National Guard emergency equipment, such as tents and trucks, is being used in Iraq.

"Not having the National Guard equipment, which used to be positioned in various parts of the state, to bring in immediately is really going to handicap this effort to rebuild," said Sebelius.

A spokesperson for the adjutant general's office, which manages state resources during emergencies, said they have about 40 per cent of what is usually allocated to them from the National Guard.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Sunday declared parts of Kansas a disaster area, freeing up federal funds.

With estimated winds of 330 km/h, the twister left a path of destruction 2.7 kilometres wide and 35 kilometres long, said the Weather Service.

It was part of a storm front that caused a number of tornadoes in parts of Illinois, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Nebraska.

With files from the Associated Press