Politics & Government

Tornado Strike Zone Put on Clean-up Radar for Saturday

But Richey's Auto Repair is coming along nicely.

Sunset Hills city government has taken the lead on a new clean-up session early Saturday morning at the site of the most severe tornado damage, at the corner of Lindbergh and Court Drive.

While most of the debris laying about was cleaned up just days and weeks after the New Year's Eve zap at noon, the abandoned houses still stand. Houses and foundations remaining are privately owned, so city government can only encourage or advise on those.

Richey's Auto Repair, on Lindbergh, has been busily making repairs and installed new garage doors on its car repair bays.

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However, word is that private owners of houses along Lindbergh and Court Drive may or may not have had insurance, and may not be anxious to repair, but instead sell.

No word on a medical building that set off another emergency several days after the tornado, when—with electric power still off—an MRI machine threatened to explode without proper cooling of certain chemicals in it. It was later defused without incident, although a plume of chemicals was released into the air.

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The rear of the medical building is destroyed and crumbling, and faces Lindbergh Boulevard.

Another house near the corner of Court Drive and Lindbergh appears to be frozen in time since the tornado, with the bright pink insulation spilling out the front where the walls are missing, and a living room and bedroom furnished with bed, tables, chairs, paintings and the rest. 

So, 8-11 a.m., Saturday, volunteers are encouraged to gather at the strike zone, generally at Lindbergh and West Waston. Already committed are St. John Vianney students and trash bins donated by Ameren UE and American Eagle.

City aldermen were expected be helping on Saturday.


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