Platte County avoids major storm damage

By Jared Hoffmann

Jared Hoffmann/Sun Gazette
Arlyn Burns, left, and Mike Fehring of Liberty-based Damon Pursell Construction work to remove a downed tree from the front of Kenny’s Auto and Tire in Northmoor Friday, May 2. Numerous trees were torn up by the roots as a result of an intense storm that made its way through the Northland last week.

While a heavy-handed storm brought severe damage to many Northland homes and businesses last week, southern Platte County was able to avoid most of the impact.

Lt. John Moyer with the Parkville Police Department said a downed telephone line in English Landing Park, widespread power outages and uprooted trees made up the extent of the storm-related damage reported throughout the city.

“For us, we’re in pretty good shape,” Moyer said. “We don’t have any damage other than trees.”

Employees with Miller’s Landscaping and Lawn Care were hard at work by 7 a.m. Friday, May 2, following the overnight storm cleaning up trees and fallen branches from several neighborhoods and businesses.

Crew member Kyle Bartel, a Parkville resident, said as he listened to the storm batter his house, he knew that a large cleanup job would be waiting for him and the other workers the following day.

“I saw that gust and thought, ‘That means work,’” Bartel said. “It’ll be a full day’s work.”

Michael Shelton, deputy emergency management coordinator, said Riverside also made it through the storm with a relatively small amount of damage. The night of the storm, Shelton said power lines were knocked down by the violent winds and a large tree fell on a generator, knocking out power throughout most of the city, including the traffic lights at Gateway Avenue and Vivion Road.

Shelton said additional damage occurred when a few empty train cars parked near Argosy Casino were tipped over and several signs bent under the wind pressure.

“It came right through the center of Riverside,” Shelton said.

Staff writer Jared Hoffmann can be reached at 389-6636 or jaredhoffmann@npgco.com.