Senior Kansas City, Kansas, residents among over 1,000 still without power 6 days after Aug. 18 storm

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.

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The 84-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, resident said the storms that hit his neighborhood early Wednesday morning left him shaken and struggling.

"I'm 84 years old,” William Crusoe said. “I ain't never been through nothing like this.”

Crusoe has a pacemaker and lives with a caretaker on doctor's orders.

He has been in his home for 25 years and says his only income is a $1,000 monthly Social Security check.

Chase Lucas/KSHB 41

With only his scooter for transportation, he has no way to reach food distribution hubs.

After the storm, he went to a shelter for a couple of days but had no way to get home when he was ready to leave.

He is now sleeping in a small shed in his backyard.

"I thought the world was coming to an end,” Crusoe said. “It started raining in here, in there. The kitchen and the bathroom, that's the only place it wasn't raining in.”

He says his ask is simple.

"I need help. I need help bad. I don't have no insurance, no nothing. I think I have about $25 in my pocket now," Crusoe said. "Give me some help. Fix my house, so I can lay back down, that's all.”

As of Monday afternoon, Crusoe is one of approximately 1,200 KCK residents still without power following the Aug. 18 storm.

According to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, power has been restored to more than 23,000 customers since the storm, and all public streets are now 100% passable.

Marshane Grant is also among those still without power.

Chase Lucas/KSHB 41

Her brother-in-law, who was discharged from the hospital Monday, was in her backseat with an oxygen tank running low.

She said a delivery of tanks had been scheduled for the day of the storm, but crews could not reach her block.

"So they didn't bring them. So what do I do?" Grant said. "I think this needs to be on the news cause something like this is gonna happen again, and they need a place to put people like that.”

She says her family has been staying in a hotel but wasn't aware of any resource hubs because they don't have a TV.

A local construction company stepped up Monday to help.

Members of CJR Construction and IMR Homes worked along Brown Avenue, clearing debris and performing free electrical work.

Charles Robinson, president and owner of CJR Construction and IMR Homes, said his company mobilized after a commissioner's office contacted them the day after the storm about the damage.

Chase Lucas/KSHB 41

They're working to build 500 homes in the area between 18th Street and Quindaro Boulevard and 7th Street and Quindaro Boulevard.

Their groundbreaking, which was set for two weeks from now, has been delayed because of the storm.

Robinson said crews are prioritizing their future neighbors, including elderly residents and those with disabilities, fixing roofs, removing debris and clearing paths for BPU and Capital Electric.

He said the biggest challenge has been trees down on live utility wires and that debris removal could take four to six weeks, with a goal of finishing by 913 Day.

Chase Lucas/KSHB 41

Residents with storm damage can reach out to foreman Dominic at 816-672-9480 with a photo and their address so their team can come to their neighborhoods and help with electrical work or debris removal.

Their team says residents should know that they're responsible for finding an electrician to repair their meter before the utility can come and restore power.

That's a service they're willing to offer for free.

"This is our home too,” Robinson said. “So we are about to be here for the next 5-6 years building easily, and we care about the community, and we care about the lives of others.”

BPU said significant progress has been made, but remaining repairs are complex, sometimes requiring replacement of multiple poles, transformers and lines.

The utility also had 22 Evergy crews assist with restoration.

BPU noted that homes with damaged customer-owned electrical equipment cannot have power restored until a licensed electrician completes repairs.

I reached out to BPU for an on-camera interview Monday, and BPU declined.

A spokesperson said they're making progress and continuing restoration efforts into neighborhoods.

Recovery efforts also include 33 Capital Electric crews, 12 tree-trimming crews from UG Public Works, four Public Works task force teams, and one additional crew from Coffeyville.

Volunteer work resumes Tuesday, Aug. 25, at McNewton's Community Outreach Center, located at 2100 N. 13th St. in KCK, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The American Red Cross shelter continues operating at the Earl Watson Community Center, located at 1120 Central Ave. in KCK, 24 hours a day, with free food and shelter.

Residents needing outage documentation for insurance claims can complete BPU's Proof of Outage Request Form on the BPU website.

For Crusoe, the goal is simple.

His home is more than just a home. He says his wife, son and daughter passed away there.

"I just want to be here until I go,” he said. “I don't want to move. I just want to be here.”

To make a donation towards storm recovery efforts in KCK, click here.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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