On Sunday, residents of North Lawrence were busy cleaning up from Saturday's violent thunderstorm.
Neighbors pitched in to help clear fallen trees and remove limbs from streets, cars and houses. Residents also conducted welfare checks on senior citizens and rounded up loose pets and livestock. The area bustled with the constant sound of chainsaws, as utility trucks drove through the streets. The regional manager of Jimmy John's set up a tent to hand out free sandwiches to volunteers.
The Lawrence Journal World reportsthat the thunderstorm that hit the area on Saturday may have packed winds in excess of 70 MPH. Gusts were strong enough to uproot entire trees -- including a large, mature American elm. As the elm came crashing down, it took with it a large sycamore. Both trees landed squarely on the covered porch of a house, but no one was hurt.
Scenes like this unfolded throughout the day Sunday, as neighbors helped neighbors clean up debris. Much of the area lost power during the storm, but Wester Energy crews were out in force, replacing downed and damaged power poles.
Most of the storm damage in Lawrence was confined to the North Lawrence neighborhood but some damage was also reported in the Pinckney neighborhood. The city send garbage collection trucks and crews throughout the area this week to collect debris and the city's compost facility will remain open until 3pm each day this week for residents to drop off debris for free. - Danny Mantyla / KPR Webmaster