KDOT crews provide support after tornado damage

During clean-up efforts in the Linwood area, a huge tree is loaded in the KDOT truck.

KDOT crews cleaned up and hauled away debris and limbs.

By Kim Stich

Informational Specialist

A May 28 tornado did significant damage in Douglas and Leavenworth counties, and KDOT crews are assisting with emergency and clean-up responses.

The National Weather Service reported the tornado on the ground in Douglas County at 6 p.m. and in Leavenworth County at K-32 about 6:25 p.m.

Crews were on the scene in Lawrence soon after as high winds overturned a semi-truck on U.S. 59 south of Lawrence, closing the highway for a short time.

KDOT crews block the main road off U.S. 59 to the area that was

damaged south of Lawrence.

Lawrence Highway Maintenance Supervisor Mark Mestagh said crew members worked with law enforcement and emergency responders the rest of the night and for several days afterwards in blocking roads to keep turn lanes and ramps closed to the public so that utility companies and other clean-up crews could work. They are continuing efforts there for the next week or so.

Mestagh said the tornado passed about a quarter-mile from the Subarea shop. High winds lifted a crash attenuator over the shop and it ended up 700 feet away on the other side of the lot. One corner of the roof was peeled up. In addition, five message boards were destroyed and brine tanks were knocked over, he said.



The tornado came within a quarter-mile of the complex.

Five message boards were blown over and destroyed at the

Lawrence Subarea Office. In addition, an attenuator was carried

over the building and landed about 700 feet away. 

Bonner Springs Superintendent Peter Wiehe was in Linwood by 6:50 p.m. with crew members on their way with equipment loaders, backhoes and other vehicles.

"We were on it as quick as we could get there, probably a little too quick as the weather was still very bad out," he said.

Wiehe said there was a lot of hand work the first night cutting trees off the road with chain saws. Two crew members had to hold lights as they worked into the evening.

Efforts will continue in the Linwood area and on K-32 for the next couple weeks. Wiehe said he talked with Linwood Mayor Brian Christenson and his wife during clean-up efforts, "and they said we are doing a great job and thanked us for the work we have done."

Tree limbs are cleared away in Leavenworth County.