Powerful storm leaves widespread damage across Tea community

After enduring a hot and humid day, residents across the Tea area were met with destructive severe weather Saturday evening as powerful thunderstorms swept through the community, leaving behind extensive damage to homes, businesses, schools and trees.

According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts reached 92 mph in Tea at approximately 8:50 p.m. Saturday, toppling large trees, ripping roofing materials from buildings and leaving a significant cleanup effort in their wake.

While the storm caused widespread property damage, the Tea Police Department reported there were no known injuries.

“There were some heavy hit areas in town,” the department shared on social media. “Thankfully, we have not received any reports of injuries.”

Among the hardest-hit properties were several Tea Area School District facilities, where district officials began assessing damage early Sunday morning. Superintendent Dr. Tonia Warzecha, Business Manager Chris Esping and district staff inspected every school building and campus, documenting damage while custodial, grounds and maintenance crews immediately began cleanup and repairs.

The Tea Area Middle School sustained the most significant damage. A section of the roof on the southwest corner was torn away by the high winds, allowing water into four classrooms. Roofing contractors and restoration crews were on site Sunday to begin repairs and water mitigation. Additional damage included the loss of the roof cap and vines that covered the front of the building.

Damage at Legacy Elementary School included a rooftop HVAC unit over the band room that was tipped over, damage to a storage shed, fencing, a soccer net and numerous trees. Temporary roof repairs were completed Sunday to protect the building from additional rainfall, while crews worked to restore the HVAC unit and clear fallen trees. Despite the exterior damage, classrooms remained largely unaffected.

Other district buildings experienced more minor impacts. Frontier Elementary School had some ceiling leaks but no significant damage, while Venture Elementary School reported minor water intrusion near entryways, limited ceiling tile damage and minor playground equipment damage. At Tea Area High School, water entered the front vestibule and office area, the front entrance overhang sustained some damage, and debris from the bus barn roof left nails scattered across the north parking lot, prompting officials to close that portion of the lot until it could be cleaned.

The district also reported damage to the bus barns, including the loss of part of the roof and water damage to office space. At the athletic stadium, the southeast fence was blown down, bleachers were overturned on the northwest home side, shingles were lost from the south ticket booth, and repairs will be needed to the football player entrance. The District Education Center experienced minor water damage and significant tree branch debris.

District officials said that despite the widespread damage, classroom interiors at most buildings remained in good condition, allowing scheduled summer programs to continue.

“Recovery efforts continue to go well, and our staff have been supportive and responsive,” Warzecha said. “I’m very appreciative of our Tea Police Department, Tea Fire Department, and local volunteers who have stepped in to assist throughout the community. I know that our schools are important places for students, families, and community members so we are working quickly but thoroughly to get everything back to normal.”

As cleanup efforts began Sunday, local businesses quickly found ways to support those affected.

SkyLounge in Tea offered a free lunch Sunday at noon for families, volunteers and neighbors spending the day cleaning up storm damage.

The business said the meal was its way of thanking community members for their hard work and helping “take some weight off our community’s shoulders” as recovery efforts continued.

The City of Tea also mobilized quickly following the storm.

City crews spent Monday collecting storm-related tree debris from boulevard areas, while the city’s storm cleanup drop-off site was opened to residents and will remain available through Aug. 3.

The site is open daily from 8 a.m. until sundown and is accepting only tree branches and limbs that fell during the storm. Building materials, fencing, yard waste and other debris are not being accepted.