Storm Cleanup Leaves 82-Year-Old and Thousands Without Power in Kansas City, Kansas
Blocked service cables and logistical setbacks are delaying safe restorations and leaving low-income residents without electricity for days.
Overview
- Severe storms toppled trees across Kansas City, Kansas and left thousands of customers without power while cleanup continues.
- An 82-year-old resident, Phyllis Roath, has a tree on her roof and her whole block remains without power because branches lie on the cables that connect homes to the lines.
- Roath has no homeowners insurance and is on a fixed income, which makes paying for tree removal and repairs a major financial burden.
- Wyandotte County Commissioner Phil Lopez bought a bucket truck to remove trees from roofs for free but the vehicle was towed by the Department of Transportation for lacking tags, which he says has slowed targeted repairs.
- Local officials are asking for donations and volunteers at a Village Initiative drop-off site as neighbors and volunteer crews work to clear debris and speed restorations.