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Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald
The Marais des Cygnes River rose at least 13 feet to 22 feet since Monday, putting the water level above the flood watch level of 20 feet but below flood level of 31 feet.
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Wicked weather whips Ottawa, area
By FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, Herald Staff Writer
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Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald
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Hail did considerable damage to vehicles, homes and businesses in Garnett Monday morning including this car at Beckman Motors, 701 N. Maple St., Garnett.
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Franklin County and Ottawa maintainence workers will have their hands and truck beds full the next few days.
Two storms brought record-setting rain, baseball-sized hail and 80 mph winds that uprooted and maimed countless trees began Monday morning. The storms also damaged houses, cars and crops.
Franklin County Emergency Management has requested the state name the county a disaster area.Alan Radcliffe, emergency management director, said county residents were not affected by the worst part of the second storm, though. The storm later formed a tornado in Missiouri.
“We got lucky,” he said.
The first storm hit Williamsburg and an area south of Richmond. The second appeared to form near Centropolis before heading southeast to Ottawa and Rantoul.
A funnel cloud was reported to emergency management at the site near Richmond. At one point during the storm, the county received 2 inches of rain in about 30 minutes, Radcliffe said.
“We got a lot of water and a lot of hail real quick,” he said.
Overall, 2.85 inches of rain fell Monday, breaking a record set in 1909, which had been 2.18 inches. The one-day rainfall made up about half of the monthly average for June, which is 5.18 inches.
The water level of the Marais des Cygnes River rose at least 13 inches to 22 feet and rising, putting the water level above the flood watch level of 20 feet but below flood level of 31 feet.
“We don’t anticipate a major river flood,” Andy Haney, Ottawa public works director, said.
Haney said flooding did occur, but it was localized.
The heavy rains caused widespread washouts of county gravel roads, and took out part of the roof on the Bank of the West, Seventh and Main streets, Ottawa, letting water into the building.
Radcliffe said damage to crops was especially extensive as well.
“I saw a cornfield with corn that tall,” he said, holding his index finger about two inches from his thumb.
Low hanging power lines also were a top concern. Downed power lines blocked streets and driveways. Possible gas leaks caused by falling tree limbs onto houses also were reported, though no fires were reported.
Jim Bradley, Ottawa utilities director, said power was restored to all areas Monday evening and to the last residence at 4:30 a.m. today.
Tree limb collection also began Monday, but it will not be completed until June 20. The city is asking residents to move limbs they would like removed to their curbs. They will not collect limbs from alleys.
Haney did not have an estimate of how much the storm damage would cost the city to clean up and repair, but he said the public works budget would be able to absorb the costs.
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