(MANHATTAN, Kan. – June 27, 2022) — Citywide cleanup efforts moved into Area 2 (north-central/purple/State Streets) on Friday, June 24 after City crews from the Street Division and Parks Division finished picking up tree and limb debris in Area 1 (southeast/tan/Ward District) on Thursday, June 23.
The amount of tree and limb debris collected so far has been significant, leading to multiple days of work being needed in each region to transport all the material away. Crews will continue to collect in the north-central area early this week and only move into Area 3 (southwest/blue) once it is complete.
If you are in one of the later collection areas (Areas 3, 4 and 5, as seen on the colored map), the City urges you to have all your tree limbs, branches and drop debris out to the curb as soon as possible, to ensure they are ready. Please remember the City only will accept limbs and tree pieces; no construction debris will be taken.
The City also asks that residents please be patient with our crews as they collect tree debris. Many of our crews were called out several nights last week to clean up after multiple subsequent storm events.
The order and rotation of collection areas was originally based the amount of damage from the June 11 tornado and severe weather event, and the City intentionally started its collection efforts in the areas hit hardest by that storm.
The City will continue to provide updates on this citywide cleanup effort as it progresses. Staff plans to continue to move from one area to the next in the order identified. The projected finish date of this cleanup effort is now July 12, although that remains subject to change.
June 23-24 Severe Weather Event
Two structures were damaged during the thunderstorm that came through Manhattan late Thursday, June 23 and just before midnight Friday, June 24: A two-family dwelling on Rosewalk Place sustained fire damage from a lightning strike and a tree damaged a residential building in the 600 block of Bluemont.
The Manhattan Fire Department (MFD) is still investigating the damage to the residential structure on Bluemont, but at this time, it appears no individuals were displaced because of Thursday night’s storm.
June 21 Severe Weather Event
MFD’s Risk Reduction Division also has completed its initial survey of structures that were damaged in the northeast portion of Manhattan (Northview) during the severe thunderstorm that occurred Tuesday, June 21.
Generally speaking, the damage was heaviest east of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and north of the intersection of Casement and McCall Road, all within the City limits of Manhattan. Damage included:
- Seventeen total residential structures sustained varying levels of damage from wind and fallen trees, ranging from damaged electrical services to severe roof damage.
- This includes nine single-family homes and eight manufactured homes.
- Two single-family homes were damaged by fires that occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 22, following the storm.
- Three dwellings were vacated due to imminent safety concerns. As much as possible, MFD is assisting displaced individuals by informing them of and connecting them with community resources that are available to help.
June 11 Severe Weather Event
On Thursday, June 23, MFD discovered that the apartment building located at 1431 Cambridge Place had sustained significant roof damage during the severe thunderstorm on June 11. This damage was not included in the initial assessments performed by City and Riley County staff.
Several dwelling units are affected and MFD was scheduled to finish the interior building inspections Friday, June 24. It is anticipated that residents will need to vacate some of the units due to the amount of stormwater infiltration that has occurred during the last two weeks following the severe windstorm. MFD will work with the property owner to relocate tenants of the units to be vacated.
Further information on the three storm-related fires MFD battled last week are available in the press releases previously issued by the fire department.