An Aug. 28 storm that tore through Kansas City, Kansas, is still disrupting daily life for some residents, with damaged homes, lingering debris, and power outages continuing long after the winds passed.
Here's what to know
As KMBC reported, some Kansas City customers were still without electricity after the Aug. 28 storm. In some neighborhoods, debris remained piled up, and some property owners were still waiting on insurance before repairs could start.
After a tree crashed through Gilbert Kirk's home, he said he has been unable to live there. He returns every day to care for the two dogs and a cat that are still on the property.
"They shut all the power down because of the damage to the house," Kirk said.
Roughly a block south of Kirk's house, another home also still had no power. Neighbor Claude Dyche said the owners had placed equipment on a power pole so they could run an extension cord while waiting on insurance to cover the torn-out electric meter and damage to the roof and gutters.
"Oh, yeah. It's a pain. I mean, you know, to be without power. I was out from, God for at least 4 or 5 weeks," Dyche said.
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Utility BPU told KMBC that 16 customers were without power because of storm damage. The utility also said at least two of those properties were abandoned houses and that notices had been posted at at least eight locations telling owners to make repairs before service could be restored.
More background
Kirk said, "I'm 71 years old, and I didn't have insurance, and in just one minute you're everything fine, and the next minute everything is gone."
KMBC said Kansas City Mayor Cristal Watson recommended that Hunt Family Foundation and Chiefs funding go to the Kansas City, Kansas School Foundation for Excellence, the Wyandotte Health Foundation, and the Salvation Army.
What's being done?
Some assistance has reached affected households.
"Salvation Army has helped me," Kirk said. "They've paid a week of the motel room."
KMBC cited an email saying Hunt Foundation money helped 50 families after the Aug. 28 storm during an event at Quindaro Elementary that provided food and hygiene supplies. The district said the effort involved "health partners" and other organizations.
KMBC said the Unified Government did not respond to its question about why Watson chose those three groups for Hunt Family Foundation money. It also said several organization leaders were unavailable for comment.
Where can I learn more?
Storm damage and long power outages have hit other communities, too, as shown in the coverage below.
• In Pennsylvania, over 400,000 homes lost power after a deadly storm.
• In suburban Chicago, toppled trees and no power left residents comparing the damage to 1967.
• In Texas, homeowners turn to microgrids for backup as intensifying storms threaten longer outages.
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