Manhattan still recovering from severe weather damage over weekend

After an in-person assessment and further analysis of radar data, the National Weather Service of Topeka determined that the storm damage that Riley County residents experienced on June 11th was caused by straight line winds and a small EF2 Tornado North east of K-States campus. Some areas of Manhattan experienced much worse straight line wind speeds than others. The hardest hit areas saw 115 mph winds which is the equivalent of wind speeds caused by EF2 tornadoes without the rotation.

Some homes on these once-leafy streets were left without any trees at all.

Regardless of the straight line winds and strong gusts that lasted for hours after the first sirens blared, the sun still rose Sunday morning and crews across Manhattan continued to try to re-establish power, cable, and internet services for many Manhattan residents.

For 20-year Fremont Street homeowners such as Bill Springer, however, watching an old-growth tree calve off a large branch in his front yard onto the sidewalk is not nearly as scary as the one that has yet to fall on his pink Victorian home. Wildcat 91.9 encountered Springer assessing a fresh crack running the length of a tall shade tree in his side yard closer to his home.
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"In 2001 or 2002, the other side of this tree came down on this side of our house. Since then, we've tried to have it taken out, but I know the insurance has told us that the tree is still stable, is still fine," Springer said.

After Saturday's storm, the new jagged split appears even more defined. Because the side-yard tree seems to be leaning away from his house and toward local power lines, Springer is convinced the tree must come down before his neighbors experience a power outage after the next storm--or he has to repair part of his roof again. Either way, Springer is on the case. "Hopefully, this will change their minds." ​