Storm cleanup underway across the Lake after July 4 damage

A severe thunderstorm system moved through the Lake of the Ozarks area over the July 4 holiday weekend, and residents across the tri-county area spent the days since assessing damage instead of celebrating. At the height of the storm Saturday, roughly 30,000 customers were without power around the Lake. As of Sunday, July 5, that number was down to about 8,000 still without power across Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties — Camden County alone had 1,300+ customers out, with Miller and Morgan counties each still showing 2,000+.

The worst of the damage is concentrated south of I-70, stretching from the Lake up to Cole County, with the Sunrise Beach area (north of Camdenton) among the hardest hit. A large dock was dislodged during the storm and found floating loose on the lake. Cole County first responders fielded 58 simultaneous calls at the peak of the storm; all roads were reported clear of debris by 2pm the following day. Utility crews have said restoration in some of the harder-hit areas could take multiple days. Osage City was restricted to property owners only on Sunday while power was being restored.

If your property took damage, you're not alone, and there's a right way and a wrong way to handle what comes next.

We reached out to a few people who deal with storm damage professionally, on the insurance and repair side, to help residents avoid the two most common storm-recovery mistakes: filing a claim the wrong way, and hiring the wrong contractor.

For roof damage specifically, Dale Hutchins, a licensed roofing contractor with 22 years of experience who consults on Midwest storm claims, put it plainly: "Wind and hail damage isn't always obvious from the ground. Get a roofer to actually go up there, not just look up at it from the driveway — and take your own photos before any repairs start."

For Lake residents dealing with dock and boat damage, Brent Okafor, a licensed marine contractor with 16 years of experience in dock and seawall repair, added: "If a piling is cracked or a dock section is sitting at an angle it wasn't built to sit at, get it inspected before you put weight on it again. And for boats, check your hull below the waterline even if the top side looks fine."

Find local help: lozrestoration.com · loztree.com

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance or legal advice. Insurance policies vary significantly — always review your specific policy language and consult your insurance agent for guidance on your claim.

Friday night's fireworks shows across the Lake (Lodge of Four Seasons, Captain Ron's, Bear Bottom, Margaritaville) went off as planned before the weather turned Saturday. Osage Beach City Park's Saturday show was affected by the incoming storm system — if you had plans interrupted, you weren't alone. We'll share confirmed details on any rescheduled shows as they come in.