DODGE CITY – The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Flood Watch Flood Watch for Ellis, Trego, Rush, Scott, Lane and Ness counties from 7 p.m. tonight until 7 a.m. Saturday.
In Hays, another 0.21 inches of rain fell early Friday morning. So far in August, 7.53 inches of rainfall has been recorded at the K-State Agricultural Research Center.
From the National Weather Service:
.Another round of thunderstorms is expected tonight. Widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected, with locally higher amounts. Many areas are saturated from rains over the previous week, and additional rainfall will runoff the wet soils.
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…
* Flash Flood Watch for portions of central Kansas and west central Kansas…including the following in central … Kansas…Ellis and Rush. in west central Kansas…Lane… Ness…Scott and Trego.
* From 7 PM CDT this evening through Saturday morning
* Another round of thunderstorms is expected tonight. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be common, with locally higher amounts. The additional rainfall will fall on soils saturated by prior rains over the previous week, leading to rapid and increased runoff.
* Pay attention to water levels near bodies of water, and in low lying areas. If thunderstorms approach, seek higher ground. If outdoors enjoying summer activities, flooding becomes even more dangerous. Ensure you have a way to receive flash flood warnings tonight. Flowing water is particularly dangerous at night, when low visibility makes it very difficult to determine how deep the water is, or how fast it is moving.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler says a change in Kansas law regarding possession of CBD oil with 5% THC is creating some challenges for law enforcement.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
A 2019 change in Kansas law allows for an affirmative defense for people being treated by a doctor with CBD oil containing up to 5% THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Don Scheibler, Hays police chief, explained the update to city commissioners during their Thursday night meeting. If stopped by law enforcement “the person must also have a letter from a licensed physician that confirms they or their minor child are being treated for a debilitating medical condition with the CBD oil.”
The change allows for a person to receive prescribed medical treatment using CBD oil with THC without being convicted of a crime in Kansas.
Mayor Henry Schwaller was curious how law enforcement officers would deal with an unmarked bottle. “How do you know it’s 5 percent?,” he asked.
“It would have to be tested and that would definitely limit us in what we could do with that,” Scheibler replied. “Each situation would vary.”
Hays police officers recently visited Hays businesses that are selling CBD oils and various other cannabis products with no THC content.
“They were able to show us their paperwork where it shows it doesn’t have any THC. Stuff purchased in Colorado (where marijuana use is legal) does list the THC.”
Scheibler says the update “isn’t the best law” for Kansas law enforcement, confirming there is no requirement for a bottle of CBD oil to be labeled.
“We’re trying to appease two different groups.”
The state legislature this year passed Claire and Lola’s law, a narrow bill that may assist certain people if they ever find themselves facing prosecution for possessing some cannabis products currently illegal in the state of Kansas.
“It creates some challenges for law enforcement. It’s illegal for them to have it,” Scheibler pointed out.
“But here’s a person with a letter from a doctor saying ‘my child needs this for treatment’ and I know they’re not going to be found guilty in court. But nothing in the law allows the officer to hand that CBD oil back to them. In fact, if he hands it back to them, he’s committed a felony in distributing THC.”
After some discussion, the Hays city commission unanimously adopted the the updated 2019 Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas cities (UPOC) and the updated 2019 Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities (STO) for use within the city of Hays.
In other business, the commission also:
Approved a bid of $48,675 from J Corp, Hays, for replacement of cart paths on the Back 9 of Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course
Approved a bid of $37,954 by Air and Fire Systems, Salina, for purchase by the fire department of a new self-contained breathing apparatus air compression system to refill firefighters’ air tanks
Fort Hays State University and the FHSU Foundation announced today that their five-year capital campaign has raised $88 million toward its $100 million goal to support scholarships, academics, student life and athletics.
Student Government Association President Brad DeMers, a junior political science major from Osceola, Neb., was on hand to testify to the benefit of the scholarship pillar of the campaign.
“FHSU offered me a scholarship, and that was the deciding factor for me,” he said. “I am honored to be up here today speaking on behalf of all FHSU students on the magnitude of our Journey campaign.”
Brad DeMers
“Today is a big day and I want to thank all of the generous donors and the Fort Hays State Foundation for making the Journey campaign possible. To announce that the campaign is ahead of schedule just proves the dedication our friends, family, alumni and supporters have to this great institution. It’s like no other place,” said DeMers.
DeMers shares the story of his journey to FHSU, and why he ultimately chose to become a Tiger, in this video available on Youtube: https://bit.ly/30s6P1z.
“The Journey campaign is the largest, most aggressive campaign in school history,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation, at a news conference in the university’s Memorial Union to announce the progress of the campaign.
“We kicked off the campaign in the fall of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of scholarships, academics, student life and athletics. We are grateful and humbled to have already raised $88 million toward this effort.”
The campaign’s status was announced by alumnus Steve Shields, entrepreneur, Journey campaign co-chair and a trustee of the FHSU Foundation.
“I get the good job,” he said. “I get to announce how well we’re doing. I’m really pleased to announce that we’re not only on schedule, we’re ahead of schedule. As of June 30, we have raised $88 million.”
Shields also shared the story of his goddaughter Lydia, who is a freshman this year on a track scholarship. He said he did not influence her in any way, but asked her why she chose FHSU.
“And she said well, she got a track scholarship,” said Shields. “And that was good. That helped. But then she said, ‘You know, the coaches were so personal, so interested in me and they’re interested in more than just how I do in track. I could feel they were interested in being who I wanted to be.”
She also told Shields that the campus is so beautiful, “and it’s growing.” Then, Shields said, she told him, “So if there’s growth with the university, there’s going to be growth opportunities for me.”
That is also why, Shields said, that he is a member of FHSU’s Wooster Society, whose members have arranged planned gifts, including estate gifts, to the FHSU Foundation.
“Eighty-eight down, 12 to go,” he said. “This is a great university to invest in, and a great university to remember in your estate plans. Fort Hays State University is generously remembered in my estate plans, and I invite you to join me in including FHSU in yours.”
FHSU President Tisa Mason concluded the news conference by thanking the many donors who have contributed to the Journey campaign.
“I am proud to share that our donors have made the dream of a college education an affordable reality for more of our students,” she said. “To date, your participation in the Journey Campaign allowed us to offer more than $13.8 million in student scholarships.”
“You have probably heard me or Jason say many times, ‘All gifts, large and small matter,’ and I am elated to report that of the 58,000 total campaign gifts we have received to date, nearly 22,000 – more than a third – are gifts under $100. Every gift matters.”
For more information on the Journey campaign and the FHSU Foundation, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu/journey or contact the Fort Hays State Foundation by phone at 785-628-5620 or via email to [email protected].
As of Thursday, city of Hays employees had taken 303 loads of downed tree limbs to the Ellis County Landfill.
The city began picking up the limbs Monday, following three severe thunderstorms with high wind last week. More thunderstorms rolled through Hays Wednesday starting at 6 a.m. with a rainfall total of 1.47 inches measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town.
Mayor Henry Schwaller says the curbside limb collections will continue through next week.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we pick up tree limbs free of charge,” Schwaller said during Thursday night’s city commission meeting.
He noted that other debris which may be been created by the storms will not be collected by the city.
“If you have something else in your yard that is not a tree limb, we can’t pick it up because we have no where to take it.”
Schwaller thanked Ellis County Public Works Director Bill Ring and the Ellis County commissioners for allowing the city to dump the trees at no cost.
“That kind of collaboration is important as was their help with the culvert on W. 27th Street.”
The Hays Public Works Department along with the Ellis County Public Works Department recently installed the new culvert under 27th Street just east of Thunderbird Drive where it is part of the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course water shed.
“We upgraded from an 18-inch culvert to a 42-inch culvert to help facilitate the movement of more (storm) water to the south side of 27th Street and the to the west,” explained Toby Dougherty, city manager.
The Ellis County employees assisted with equipment and manpower. They also installed a deflecting panel at the culvert exit so the water doesn’t cause erosion.
“I checked it out a couple of times during the most recent rains,” Dougherty told city commissioners, “and it’s working pretty well.”
Another 0.14 inches of rain fell in Hays early Thursday morning, with a total so far in Aug. of 7.22 inches.
For the year-to-date, Hays has received 21.86 inches of moisture.
Dougherty also noted a new informational sign has been erected near the Big Creek levee walking trail east of Main Street which describes the history of flooding in that area and the creation of the levee.
The informational sign project was done in cooperation with the Kansas State Historical Society.
Calling it “not a big change but an unusual change,” Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler reviewed the update to marijuana laws in Kansas regarding CBD oil containing THC for city commissioners last week.
The change is in the 2019 Uniform Public Offense Code (UPOC) which is revised and published annually by the Kansas League of Municipalities for adoption by cities in the state.
THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the active ingredient in marijuana.
“The change in the law creates an affirmative defense for those being treated by a doctor and receiving CBD oil of up to 5% THC,” Scheibler explained.
“A person in possession of CBD oil with no more than 5% THC that has been prescribed by a doctor will not be found guilty in this section (of the UPOC) if the person or their minor child has a debilitating medical condition and is being treated by a doctor for the illness with CBD oil.”
The person must also have in their possession a letter written within the last 15 months from a Kansas doctor which says the person/minor child has a debilitating condition and is being treated with CBD oil. The letter must be shown to law enforcement when requested.
“If they do all those things and they’re arrested and charged, when they go to trial they’ll be found not guilty. This change in the law allows a person to use prescribed medical treatment using CBD oil without being convicted of a crime.”
Other changes noted by Scheibler are current laws moved into the UPOC for 2019.
They include:
Unlawful interference with EMS/medical service attendants
“Where we see this is sometimes at large parties and somebody is injured. People want to interfere and assist and help.”
Possession of a firearm while under the influence
“This is one we actually see quite a bit. This law prohibits a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs to carry a loaded firearm or to have it in their immediate access while in a vehicle. We see it on DUIs. We’ve arrested a person for DUI and they’ve got a loaded handgun underneath the seat, or in the door, or in the console. This law prohibits them from doing that.
“Prior to this being moved into UPOC, we’d have to charge those people through District Court because we still had that in the ordinance for the city, so I’m happy to see this one in there.”
Scheibler noted the law does not apply to a person who possesses a firearm in their own home, their business, or on their own property.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler talks about a change in Kansas law requiring drivers to hand over their licenses when stopped by law enforcement officers.
A change to the 2019 Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas addresses driver’s licenses in possession of the driver.
According to Scheibler the law was changed because law officers across the country are experiencing incidents of drivers refusing to hand over their license to the officer, claiming the law only required them to display it.
“This change now clearly states the law requires the driver to promptly deliver the license to the officer when requested.
Scheibler says it’s an officer safety issue.
“One of the most dangerous things the officers do is a traffic stop. And the longer they’re out there on the traffic stop alongside the road with semi-trucks going on the backside of them, arguing with people about whether or not they’re getting the driver’s license, the more danger there is to the officer.
“I’m happy to see this change.”
City commissioners will consider adopting the 2019 Uniform Public Office Code and 2019 Standard Traffic Ordinance at their meeting tonight.
Other agenda items include consideration of bid awards:
Replacement of the 1993 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Compressor System used by the Hays Fire Department. Staff recommends the proposal from Air and Fire Systems, Salina, for $37,954.
Construction of concrete cart paths on the Back 9 of the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course. The low bid of $48,675 is from J Corp, Hays. The asphalt cart paths on the Back 9 were installed in 1998 and have deteriorated.
Overnight storm damage in Hays for the third time in 5 days.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Another stormy night in Hays, the third time in five days.
Three waves of thunderstorms cut through Saturday night into early Sunday morning – at 9:20 p.m., 11 p.m. and 3:45 a.m. – according to official records at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town.
Weather keeper Joe Becker says the storms included high damaging winds, driving rain, ground lightning and thunder, with some small hail in the final wave.
The peak wind gust recorded at the research center was 65 mph at 10:10 p.m. At the Hays Regional Airport, a peak wind gust of 69 mph was recorded out of the southwest at 1:56 a.m. Sunday, with sustained wind of 53 mph.
The official rainfall amount was 2.72 inches. At the airport, 2.15 inches was recorded.
So far in August Hays has received 5.61 inches of rain, far exceeding the average total rainfall of 2.97 inches for August.
Total moisture recorded far the year to date is 20.25 inches. The average is 17.57 inches by the end of August.
The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Flood Warning for Ellis County until 5:15 a.m. Monday, with radar-indicated rainfall amounts ranging from 3 to 7 inches across the area.
Aug. 13 storm damage at Hays Celebration Community Church
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Longtime Hays resident Sandy Jacobs, who is a city commissioner, calls Tuesday night’s severe weather the “worst storm” she’s ever witnessed in her many years living in Hays.
“I’ve got videos and go back and look at it and it still scares me,” she said during Thursday night’s commission work session.
Jacobs offered a public “thank you” to first responders and city employees for their quick and thorough response to the flooding and other damage.
She also recognized the residents of Hays.
“I’d really like to thank neighbors helping neighbors. There was so much of that going on. I saw it in my neighborhood. I saw it in every neighborhood,” Jacobs pointed out. “They were bringing in equipment to help each other.
“That’s what makes this community great and makes me really proud to be a citizen.”
Toby Dougherty, city manager, clarified what the process will be.
“We stated in our press release to put the limbs curbside, and we won’t go on private property. … what we mean by not going onto property is if a tree is leaning on somebody’s house or it’s crushing a fence or a shed, we’re not going onto the property.
“Don’t block the sidewalk. Have it as close as possible to the sidewalk as possible on the edge of your property,” Dougherty directed.
“The county has agreed to accept them (tree limbs) for free so we want to thank the Ellis County Commission for extending that to us,” Schwaller added.
At the end of the meeting, Schwaller called for a 30-minute executive session which included the city manager, City Attorney John Bird and Assistant City Attorney Todd Powell to discuss matters of attorney/client privilege.
No action was taken following the executive session.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued public health advisories for Kansas lakes.
Warnings:
Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (unchanged)
Camp Hawk Lake, Harvey County (unchanged)
Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County (unchanged)
Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County (unchanged)
Lake Afton, Sedgwick County (unchanged)
Lakewood Park Lake, Saline County (unchanged)
Lebo Kids’ Pond, Coffee County (unchanged))
Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area (unchanged)
Marion County Lake, Marion County (unchanged)
Melvern Outlet Pond, Osage County (unchanged))
Melvern Swim Pond, Osage County (unchanged))
Neosho State Fishing Lake, Neosho (unchanged)
South Lake, Johnson County (unchanged)
Westlake in Gage Park, Shawnee County (unchanged)
When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
Water contact should be avoided.
Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.
Watches:
Carousel Lake (Gage Park), Shawnee County (unchanged)
Hiawatha City Lake, Brown County (unchanged)
Hodgeman County State Fishing Lake, Hodgeman County (unchanged)
Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County (unchanged)
Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (unchanged)
Rock Garden Pond (Gage Park), Shawnee County (unchanged)
Meadowbrook Park Lake, Johnson County (new)
The following watches have been lifted effective August 15:
Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Norton County
Marion Reservoir, Marion County
A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.
During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Signage will be posted at all public access locations
Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.
KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.
Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.
TOPEKA – The Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Lee Norman, MD, MHS, MBA, has been selected to serve on the Defense Health Board.
“Secretary Norman will be an integral addition to this board,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “As a public health advocate and honored service member, he will represent Kansas and Public Health brilliantly.”
The Defense Board is a federal advisory committee that provides independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense about healthcare policy and research as well as injury and disease prevention and treatment. It is the mission of the Board to help the U.S. Defense Secretary maximize the health, safety and effectiveness of the U.S. Armed forces service members.
“I am very honored to be asked to serve in this capacity,” Secretary Norman said. “I have spent most of my career working in public health and this appointment is an honor.”
In addition to his role with KDHE, Norman is a lieutenant colonel in the Kansas Army National Guard and the State Surgeon of Kansas. He has served as a U.S. Air Force senior medical officer, flight surgeon and combat medicine instructor. Norman was appointed as KDHE Secretary by Gov.Kelly on January 7 and unanimously confirmed by the Kansas legislature on March 14, 2019.
Two of the 70 or so members of Celebration Community Church who showed up to help salvage items last night from the main sanctuary — heavily damaged by Tuesday’s severe storm that went through Hays — had also lost part of the roof on their own house.
The church’s two-year-old metal roof over the main sanctuary was peeled off by northwesterly wind gusts up to 77 mph as recorded at the Hays Regional Airport at 7:56 p.m. last night and steady northwest wind of 56 mph.
Fortunately, no one was in the church at the time.
“We have a regular Tuesday night women’s Bible study group that meets, but they canceled because of the severe weather threat,” Senior Pastor Brant Rice said Wednesday morning. “We feel blessed nobody is hurt.”
Rice, along with associate pastor Derek Mayfield and youth pastor Kael Bloom, gathered again shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday to assess damage in the daylight. They also met with the church’s insurance agent. Other church employees and volunteers also arrived to begin the cleanup process.
“We’ve told people for so many years the church isn’t a building, it’s the people,” said Rice. “No sooner did we get up here last night that we had dozens of people from the church that were already here cleaning up stuff, getting water out of the building, moving equipment out.”
The church is located just north of the Interstate 70 157 Exit west of Hays at 5790 230th Ave.
Four portions of the roof were blown to the south. One large piece wrapped around a light pole in the parking lot. The section tossed the farthest landed just north of the I-70 westbound lanes. Piles of rain-soaked insulation littered the parking lot and were wrapped around trees.
“It looks like we’re going to have to pretty much start from metal and concrete and build it back up again. We’ve got good insurance coverage,” Mayfield added.
Mayfield was the project manager for the new sanctuary and seeing the destruction hit him hard.
“It was tough coming up here last night but as Brant said, the church is the people, not the building,” he said.
“So my sour thoughts of all the hard work that went into getting the building ready changed pretty quick when I saw how our church family and the people responded, coming up here to lend a helping hand however they could. That changed my perspective real quick,” Mayfield said with a wry smile on his face.
Volunteers arrived last night after the storm using the flashlights on their phones to light their way because the electricity was off.
“We had people moving 400-500 chairs out as quick as they could out of the worship space, pulling TVs and projectors off walls just to get things out so if the walls collapsed we salvaged what we could,” said Rice said, noting work continued until about 12:30 a.m. “We’re so proud of our church family and people from the community already who have offered their help, their equipment. We know it’s going to be good.”
“We’re going to have church this weekend, no doubt about it. I don’t know where. We’ll make it work,” Mayfield added.
“We just want to thank everyone for reaching out,” Rice said. “We know there’s damage throughout the community. Just know we’re praying for everybody that’s been affected by this.”
Celebration Community Church has a weekly Sunday service attendance of about 1,100 people during the school year. A number of members are from outside Hays and Ellis County.
Hays Celebration Community Church suffered significant damage in Tuesday night’s severe weather.
Two road signs sheared off at the I-70 157 exit
A sheared stop sign at the westbound I-70 Exit 157
A Midwest Energy transmission line downed east of the church.
A second MWE electrical transmission pole south of I-70 near the Kansas Highway Patrol building leans after the storm.
Roof insulation strewn on the ground and wrapped in trees.
Roughly 1,500 customers, mainly in Ellis Co., remain without power at this time. Crews from Hays, Colby, WaKeeney, Oakley and several contract crews are working on this, primarily in NW Hays near Celebration Church, the Highway Patrol office on the bypass, the Fairgrounds, and in east Hays off Victoria Road. We have roughly 50 poles down in the Hays district.
Additionally, we have five service crews in Hays and Ellis responding to dozens and dozens of calls about downed yard lines, limbs on wires, etc. Thanks for being patient – the guys are working through these as quickly as possible, and will stay on the job until all are done.
Great Bend area crews are busy working on 20 poles that were downed there.
Please continue to call in your outages to 1-800-222-3121 if you’ve not done so, or if you spot a dangerous condition like wires on the ground. Thank you!
Update 10:38 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Some county roads closed due to downed trees; most to reopen today
Feedlot Road and Antonino Road were closed temporarily Tuesday night due to downed trees as where other county roads.
230th Road was closed Wednesday morning at the request of Midwest Energy as crews worked on overhead power lines.
Bill Ring Sr, Ellis County Public Works director, said all county roads should be reopened today with the exception of road that may have to be closed temporarily for work on power lines.
Although roads were closed due to downed power lines and limbs and trees in roadways, no county road had to be closed due to wash outs, Ring said.
Road signs are down throughout the county. Ring said the county is still receiving sign damage reports. Stop signs will be replaced first. He said there is a list in the works of repairs that need to made.
RPM Speedway and the Ellis County Fairgrounds received substantial damage. Watch the Hays Post for more information on that story as it becomes available.
Update 10:27 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Limb pick up to start Monday in Hays
The Hays Public Works Department will begin picking up limbs on Monday. Limbs must be placed at the curb. City officials urged residents to keep limbs out of streets and off of sidewalks. Limbs will not be picked up from allies.
Trees down in Ellis Photo by Scarlett Deutscher
Update: 9:39 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Old Ellis High School damaged; trees uprooted in Ellis
Although the old Ellis High School building received substantial damage, the Ellis High/Junior School and Washington Elementary School buildings were not damaged.
School will start on time on Thursday, Aug. 22, a school official said this morning.
A school officials said a portion of the brick from a wall came down at the old high school and the wall was now bowed. She said insurance adjusters will be on site today, but it is too early to determine what will become of the building.
Limbs were also down over the school’s track and in the football practice field.
Dan Wickham, Ellis Public Works foreman, said trees were down across town, but especially on the west end of town. Some roads were initially blocked, but are open now and power is back up to the city, he said.
Memorial Park had power poles snapped and cleanup was continuing today at the Ellis campground.
Wickham said the limb burn site will remain open throughout the week and into next week. The city will pickup limbs, but they must be placed at the curb.
Update 8:50 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post, video by Amy Burton
Hays Fire Department
The Hays Fire Department responded to 12 storm-related calls Tuesday night. The bulk of these calls were related to arching power lines and tree limbs on fire in power lines, Shane Preston, Hays deputy fire chief, said.
The HFD was called to a structure fire in the 2200 block of Fort Street. That ended up being a downed power line that was causing appliances in a home to short out and filling the home with smoke. No fire was discovered. No one was hurt.
The HFD responded to one person stranded by flood waters in a car on Canal Street. That person was able to escape their vehicle unhurt by the time the HFD arrived.
Preston said they had a report of water inside at least one apartment in town, but Preston did not have the exact address.
Preston said the HFD responded to no major injuries as a result of the storm. He described Tuesday night as a “fortunate night.”
Preston urged residents to be cautious during cleanup in the coming days. He encouraged property owners to be vigilant that tree limbs they are removing are not touching power lines.
“Wear long pants and gloves. Look up as you are removing trees to make sure you are not around power lines,” he said. “It is still wet. Look above as you carry off limbs to make sure you don’t get in power lines.”
UPDATE 8:30 a.m. Midwest Energy power outage report
From Midwest Energy’s Facebook page
Crews worked through the night and got power back to Ellis, most of Hays, and many rural areas. From 7,000 down at the storm’s peak, we currently have 1,800 meters without power.
If you still don’t have power, please call that in first thing today at 1-800-222-3121. We have crews from WaKeeney, Oakley and Colby coming to help, as well as several contracted crews.
As always, treat any downed wires as live; don’t move them yourself, and keep people and pets away. If you have tree branches on wires, call us and we will come assist. Stay safe, and thanks for your patience! We’ll update again later this morning.
Update 8:31 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Ellis County Emergency Management
Darin Myers, Ellis County Emergency Management director, said no one was seriously hurt in the county in the storm last night that he was aware of.
County first responders extracted a person from a semi that was blown over o Interstate 70 near Ellis, but that person was not seriously hurt.
Myers confirmed that the multiple semis where blown over on the interstate last night, but an exact number had not yet been confirmed.
Myers said power outages in the county were widespread. County public works is compiling a list of rural rod closures. County officials said Wednesday morning that multiple stop signs had been toppled by winds that peaked at 78 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service Tuesday night.
Although last night’s storm was reported to have only contained straight-line winds. 78 mph winds rival an EF-0 tornado, which includes winds of 68-85 mph. The winds would also be equal to a category one hurricane.
Weather information from the Hays Regional Airport shows the squall coming through with a peak wind gust of 77 mph at 7:56 p.m. Tuesday.
The official weather report from K-State Extension was of 1.34 inches of rain Tuesday night.
Rainfall at the Hays Regional Airport was measured at 0.92. Other reports from Hays residents range from (1.55 to 2.5 inches)
Tuesday evening’s storm in Hays knocked out the main Midwest Energy electrical line trunk that powers Fort Hays State University.
Generators immediately kicked in, according to Ed Howell, FHSU police chief, and the entire campus currently has electricity.
The damaged wall of FHSU Akers Energy Center shortly after the storm abated. (Photo by Ruth Dreher, FHSU)
The powerful wind gusts tore down a large portion of the north wall of the campus power plant Akers Energy Center.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Dodge City, a wind gust of 78 mph was measured at the Hays Regional Airport at 7:56 p.m. “You never know what that wind will do coming through this little tunnel area (between buildings),” said Howell.
At 8:20 p.m. the damaging winds were still at 52 mph sustained and gusting to 72 mph at 8:20 pm, the NWS reported in an update.
Campus crews were using heavy equipment late Tuesday night to clear the glass and cement wall block debris from the damaged area and sidewalk. A large limb was torn from a tree along the building driveway to the east.
Other tree damage was noticeable on the east side of Tomanek Hall which is adjacent to the power plant.
School starts Wednesday for students in Hays USD 489 and Monday for the two Hays Catholic schools – TMP-Marian High School/Junior High School and Holy Family Elementary – along with Fort Hays State University.
Traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular, will increase dramatically.
Hays Police Department Lt. Brandon Wright has some back-to-school safety tips for drivers and students.
Drivers should slow down, stay off their cell phones, and allow extra time to get where they need to go. Speeding fines are doubled in school zones.
Drivers in both directions must stop while a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm out. A third offense in five years of passing a school bus with its lights activated is $1,000 plus court costs.
Don’t drop off or pick up students where they’re forced to cross a traffic lane.
Children should walk or bike the same route to and from school each day and have a plan to check in with someone after school.
Bicyclists should wear helmets.
Make sure children are aware of traffic ways at alleys and driveways.
HAYS POST
