Storm creates havoc for south KC residents and businesses

By Kathy Feist

Melvin Toles was at work talking on the phone with family members during yesterday’s storm when suddenly he heard a loud crash on the other end. Panic ensued. A large tree had fallen through the roof of their home near 125th and Holmes Road. 

 “I jumped in my car and rushed home,” he recalls. Rushing wasn’t easy. There were downed tree limbs in the street. At one point, a firetruck blocked traffic while emergency crews lifted a heavy tree limb off a car. And then there was the heavy rain and high wind gusts to contend with. 

Once there, Toles was able to calm his family and take action. No one was hurt. With help, he got the tree off the roof and tarped the holes.

On Tuesday morning he awaited the insurance appraiser. 

A couple of miles south in Martin City, an insurance agent was looking at storm damage to a business–his business. 

A large tree had been uprooted and fallen on the eaves of Brady Crawford’ State Farm Insurance building. Staff were inside when it happened. “They were scared shitless,” says Crawford. None were hurt. 

By Tuesday morning the tree had been hauled away, with the exception of the 4-foot wide trunk, which stood on its side, roots intact. 

Crawford says the office will remain closed until the building is repaired. His staff will operate out of the Waldo office. 

Many were relieved that the overnight storm produced little rainfall. 

“If it had rained all night, we would have had major problems,” says JJ Mirable, who helps run Jasper’s Restaurant at Watt’s Mill Shopping Center near 103rd and State Line. Jasper’s Restaurant overlooks the waterfall of Indian Creek, beautiful most days, but a threat to businesses in the strip during heavy rains.

Jasper Mirabile, JJ’s uncle, had posted for help on Facebook prior to the storm, worried about the debris of limbs that had accrued under a bridge, damming part of Indian Creek. 

“The trees are still blocking the creek here on 103rd Street, right off State Line on the side of Jasper’s and Marco Polo’s,” he posted, hoping to get the attention of the City and local media. “It’s the same story—promises were made, and yet, nothing has been done.”

By Tuesday morning, an email had been sent to Jasper by Kansas City Parks and Recreation promising to send a Natural Resource Manager to the creek. 

“I’m here just waiting,” says Jasper, several hours after receiving the message. He had not seen anyone from the City. 

Jasper is concerned that Watt’s Mill Shopping Center could become another 103rd and Wornall story, where Indian Creek flooding destroyed an entire shopping strip. 

“I’m begging for help,” he says. 

According to a text sent to Jasper by Mayor Quinton Lucas, it’s unclear who is responsible for the waterway debris cleanup: KC Water, KC Parks or the US Corp of Engineers. [In general, the federal government is responsible for waterways.] However Lucas acknowledged that the brush could be cleared by the city. Once cleared, he said the Corp of Engineers will need to correct the runoff issue with a deeper or wider water basin or find upstream solutions. 

It will take time. 

For the next few days, the waters will recede. But the threat remains. 

Meteorologist Kreller says the next chance of thunderstorms is the upcoming weekend.