Storm toll: 322 vehicles, 435 tons of brush and counting

A week after the July 7 storm that brought winds of 60 to 75 miles per hour to Lawrence and surrounding communities, the total amount of damage is still being tallied.

At last count, city of Lawrence spokeswoman Megan Gilliland said, 322 vehicles were damaged by the storm and about 435 tons of tree limbs and trees had been dropped off at the city’s brush drop-off site.

The city allowed residents to drop off storm debris for free last week and extended hours to allow more time to do so. Gilliland said multiple city crews worked throughout the week picking up bundled brush from curbsides.

The city will continue to look for brush bundles this week, but the brush site returns to its regular cost of $5 per truckload and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday only.

City employees put in more than 1,000 hours last week cleaning up storm damage and will put in more this week, Gilliland said.

The worst of the damage occurred in west Lawrence near the intersection of Wakarusa Drive and Bob Billings Parkway, Gilliland said. Heavy damage occurred near the Alvamar Golf Course, she said.