The City of Adair and its surrounding rural lands was one of the areas hit the hardest by Monday’s severe storm that rolled through southern Guthrie and northern Adair county.

Adair City Clerk Michelle King was born and raised in the area so it has been difficult for her to see area residents with homes and properties so badly impacted by the strong winds and large hail events during Monday’s storm, but she says people seem to be in a positive state of mind.

“Everybody’s spirits seem to be pretty high, they’re all thankful nobody got hurt.  Roofs can be replaced, siding can be replaced… lives cannot.  So really everybody seems very compassionate and glad to be part of a small town where neighbors can help neighbors.”

King herself has been busy helping Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf set-up Adair’s volunteer recovery effort so she hasn’t had much time to reflect on Monday’s events.

One thing is certain though, it was scary few minutes to live through.

“It was the first time in my life where I actually did fear… “what if the building (falls) down?”.  I grew up in the area so I’ve been through storms several times, but this was probably by far the scariest for me.”

King says Adair’s clean-up and recovery will continue throughout today and the days ahead.  With many of the battered trees cut up in the town, King and Kempf say rake volunteers are now needed to help clear off residents’ properties.

Tune-in to today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County to hear from King as she talks more about Monday’s severe weather and the clean-up efforts since then.  That program will air as usual during the 9am, noon and 5pm hours on K107.