Ottawa Auto Shop Rebuilds After Tornado

0:00It's April 27. You're listening to Kansas News today, AI-powered local news. Two weeks after an EF2 tornado tore through Ottawa, Kansas on April 13th, folks there are still picking up the pieces. A local family auto shop took a hard hit, with part of the building gone and the rest hanging on. The owner, Randy McCurdy, finally got his first insurance adjuster out on Monday to snap picks and size up the mess. Delays hit hard because adjusters were slammed with damage from tornadoes all over the area. McCurdy's spot at the corner of South Maine in West 17th has been a town staple for years, run by his labrathered Jeff until his passing in. 2025. Randy, now retired from the repair game, had the property of for sale right before the storm ripped through. Residents like Randy praised the city for stepping up big time, guiding him on safety codes after the chaos. They pushed him to swap caution tape for a proper fence around the roughest spots to keep kids and liability out. Just down the road, neighbor Brian left saw his boat, car and home siding wrecked, but

1:04his insurance moved fast with an adjuster in two days. Now Randy's weighing options sell the lot as is or clear the damage structure first. The adjusters visit brought some real answers and a structural engineer might check it next to reveal hidden issues in the main building. Recovery's grinding on, but with city support and insurance kicking in, Ottawa's rebuilding one step at a time, turning scars into stronger, foundations.