Lawrence forestry crew works nonstop after storms topple trees

Lawrence’s forestry crew spent much of the past week and a half racing from one storm-damaged tree to the next, including a tree south of the Iowa Street and Harvard Road intersection that nearly blocked traffic. Assistant parks director Mark Hecker said the pace was unusual for the city’s three-person forestry crew and one forestry manager, who were called out on five of the last seven nights as heavy rain, strong wind and a weak tornado battered Lawrence and Douglas County.

The strain was not just about cleanup. Downed trunks and hanging limbs can close streets, threaten power lines and turn a damaged tree into a life-safety hazard. Hecker said the tornado damage in North Lawrence was about the limit of what the in-house crew could handle on its own, and a larger event would require more outside help. Lawrence typically tries to manage as much of that work as possible with city staff before bringing in contractors when conditions outstrip its internal capacity.

The storm pattern that drove the calls was intense. Severe weather moved through Douglas County late June 8 into early June 9, dropping more than 3 inches of rain in some areas. Lawrence Regional Airport recorded 1.37 inches, while other parts of town saw about 1 inch to more than 2 inches. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service later confirmed that the North Lawrence tornado was an EF0 that was on the ground from 12:24 a.m. to 12:26 a.m. on June 9, with estimated peak winds of 80 mph, a path length of 0.57 miles and a maximum width of 30 yards. The survey reported no fatalities or injuries.

The city’s own service-request system shows why storm cleanup has become a recurring workload. Since the app launched in February 2024, Lawrence had logged 1,511 requests by September 2024, with an average closure time of six days across all request types. Tree and overhead limb issues were already among the most popular requests, and the app includes a specific category for Tree/Overhead Limbs.

For residents, the city draws a clear line between routine cleanup and urgent hazards. If debris is blocking a road or sidewalk but is not an emergency, people can report it through SeeClickFix or the city website. If a tree is leaning, a limb is hanging overhead or utility lines are involved, the city says to call the non-emergency dispatch line. True life-safety emergencies still go to 911.

Lawrence’s severe-weather guidance also warns that any thunderstorm can produce a tornado with little or no warning, and tells residents to shelter when warnings are issued or sirens sound. The city’s response this week showed how quickly a brief tornado and repeated storms can stretch a small crew, and how much the city depends on fast reporting before damaged trees become a bigger public-safety problem.