🎥 Nearly 700 loads of trees, limbs taken to landfill after July 13 storm

wood tree limb pickup — Jacob Wood, Hays Asst. Mngr., reports on the aftermath of the July 13 storm in Hays.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Two weeks and one day after that severe wind storm went through Hays, downing many trees and a few power lines, and causing some structural damage, the city has completed its cleanup of broken trees and limbs.

Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood reported to city commissioners Thursday evening the crews has finished up earlier in the day.

The thunderstorm packing winds of more than 80 mph went through Hays on Wednesday, July 13, about 6 a.m.

“By 7 a.m., we had 95 city employees out moving the storm debris.,” Wood said. “The crews worked to clear the streets, respond to different service calls, and repair traffic signals. By 9 o’clock, most of the streets were cleared and we started to handle other debris.”

Workers then went to Lincoln Draw. Forecasts from the National Weather Service called for more rain the next night. “We got Lincoln Draw cleaned out so that wouldn’t cause any future flooding problems.”

Wood also noted that during the initial response, the Hays McDonald’s restaurants provided free breakfast to the city crews.

Curbside tree limb pick up started Friday, July 15, giving property owners a couple of days to get the debris moved.

“We had crews from the parks department, public works department and utilities, and they moved close to 700 loads of limbs to the Ellis County Landfill,” Wood said.

The city provided personnel at the landfill to help direct the incoming loads from city and private vehicles.

City Manager Toby Dougherty said he’s not yet seen a compilation of costs. “We did have to rent some trailers, and there’ll be some labor costs.”

Wood told commissioners the city received a number of compliments on how the situation was handled.

“The guys did a great job on this,” Wood said. “They spent a lot of time out there picking up limbs.”

Longtime resident Mayor Eber Phelps, and Commissioner Henry Schwaller, who has lived in Hays all his life, made remarks last week about the storm’s ferocity.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Phelps said.

“Not in my lifetime,” added Schwaller.