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Thousands Recovering After Heavy Storms Tear Through Kansas City

Andrea Tudhope
/
KCUR 89.3
Kansas City Parks and Recreation crews trimmed trees in a neighborhood near Ingels Elementary in South Kansas City.

Crews in Kansas City, Missouri, spent Thursday cleaning up after severe storms, which spawned tornadoes, swept through the metro area Wednesday night. 

The National Weather Service reported that three minor to moderate tornadoes touched down in the Kansas City area around 9 p.m. Wednesday — in Raytown and Belton, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas. It also reported a tornado touched down a few hours earlier in Big Lake State Park about 100 miles north.

Mike Overcash, a forester with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, supervised crews as they fanned out to clean up tree damage. 

"Most of the damage has been on the south end of town from State Line all the way to Blue Ridge Boulevard," Overcash said.

At 83rd and Raytown Road, a large oak tree split, crashing into Sean Hagey's house. 

In a Facebook message, Hagey told KCUR he and his family spent Thursday clearing out their house and assessing the damage. 

By 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Kansas City Power and Light reported 137 customers were still without power. That was down from a peak of 10,000 power outages, concentrated mostly in eastern Jackson County at 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

Andrea Tudhope is a reporter at KCUR 89.3. Follow her on Twitter @tudhope.

Andrea Tudhope is an award-winning multimedia journalist based in Kansas City, Missouri. She is currently coordinating producer for America Amplified, a national public media community engagement initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
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