Donations sought for relief agencies

The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce is asking area residents to contribute funds to help with tornado recovery and future disasters.

Both the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army provided places for tornado victims to stay after their homes were damaged. They also assistance.

The tornado that struck Lawrence Thursday damaged more than 100 homes, destroying six of them, emergency officials said. By the end of the weekend, the Red Cross had provided 3,268 meals.

Donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund can be sent to the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 734 Vt., Lawrence 66044; Douglas County Red Cross, 2518 Ridge Court, Lawrence 66046, or People’s Bank, 4831 W. Sixth St., Lawrence 66049. The bank is offering matching funds up to a total of $5,000.

Contributions to the Salvation Army can be made by calling 843-4188.

Overpass protection bad, climatologist warns

Manhattan — Despite what you’ve heard or seen on television, seeking protection from a tornado under a highway overpass is a bad idea, a state climatologist said in a statement released Tuesday.

“They’re a wind tunnel,” said Mary Knapp, who maintains the state’s official weather data library at Kansas State University. “Any debris in the air will swoosh through overpasses at an accelerated rate.”

Parking your car under an overpass to get out of hail or rain also is a bad idea and could cause traffic accidents, Knapp said. Other drivers may have difficulty seeing vehicles parked along the side of the highway because of the weather, she said.

If you’re traveling and a storm hits or you know one is headed your way, find a place like a restaurant or store, stop and wait out the storm.

If you are caught on the road and you see a tornado, seek shelter in a culvert or lie in a ditch, Knapp said.

KU, LHS alumnus helping relief efforts

Lawrence native Kevin Colson, a participant in the AmeriCorps service program, is helping with tornado-relief efforts near Kansas City, Kan.

Colson, who is stationed in Charleston, S.C., during the 10-month service program, arrived last week in Kansas City and will be working there for three weeks.

Before that, he and the 10 other members of his AmeriCorps team were tutoring and mentoring elementary school students in Summerville, S.C.

Colson attended Lawrence High School and Kansas University before entering AmeriCorps.

The program requires participants to complete at least 1,700 hours of service. In exchange, they receive $4,725 to help pay for college or school loans.

Lions Club foundation offers storm victims aid

The Lions Club International Foundation has donated $5,000 for tornado-relief efforts in Lawrence, local Lions officials announced Tuesday.

The River City Lions Club and the Lawrence Noon Lions Club are in charge of distributing the money, which can be used by tornado victims for food, clothing, medical supplies, kitchen supplies, blankets and bottled water.

The Lions will work with the American Red Cross to identify. Victims interested in receiving vouchers should go to the American Red Cross service center at Wesleyan Church, 3705 Clinton Parkway.

City will study shelter requirements

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday said they would look at requiring storm shelters for new housing developments after last week’s tornado.

“I don’t think it’s realistic to do retrofitting,” Commissioner David Schauner said. “But new construction should provide an area for people to be safe.”

The suggestion should hit the City Commission agenda within the next few weeks, officials said.