It didn’t take long for Chase County residents affected by tornadic activity to get word about available roofing help.
Strong City says roofing and construction companies started arriving in town Thursday — just hours after several tornadoes touched down and caused varying levels of damage Wednesday night. City leaders are urging residents of Strong City, Cottonwood Falls and Elmdale — and other areas of the county suffering damage — to make sure to check out companies before agreeing to work. A Strong City social media post says: “Just because they have a nice logo on a shirt or a sign on a vehicle does not make them a trusted, responsible company.”
Meanwhile, National Weather Service employees are back across Chase County on Friday as they continue damage surveys that started Thursday. Survey teams determined maximum EF-2-level damage, reflecting peak wind gusts as high as 125 mph, with damage areas noted one mile east of Elmdale, three miles southwest of Strong City and 3.5 miles south of Dunlap. The Weather Service has not yet determined the number of tornado touchdowns, and it’s still working to determine path lengths and path widths.
The Weather Service Topeka office has confirmed a tornado that likely moved from northeast Chase County into southeast Morris County, about three miles south-southwest of Dunlap. Damage was limited to one house, with parts of the roof removed and some windows broken.
And while cleanup work continues, late-minute planning continues for a big activity in Cottonwood Falls on Saturday. Burnley Memorial Library is celebrating its 85th anniversary with a slew of activities from 10 am to noon. Spokesperson Janet Ayers says the library escaped with some tree damage but nothing structural to the building itself.
The activity list is lengthy, including music, author book signings, a quilt display, model train, event exhibits and displays, snacks and a book sale.
Residents needing information can call the library at 620-273-9119.
