Jake Roden, assistant director of Recreation & Public Grounds for the City of Webster City, points to what was a tree before Monday night's winds. Graceland cemetery lost three complete trees and portions of multiple others.

Persistent wind has impacted preparation for Memorial Day weekend throughout the community. For the city grounds and parks department, this spring has been more challenging than most years.

That wind has taken a toll on trees, electrical lines and property, the most significant event of which is likely Monday evening’s gusts up to at least 60 miles per hour.

Graceland Cemetery lost three fully grown trees, in addition to significant damage to many others, according to Jake Roden, assistant director for the Recreation & Public Grounds, the department that is responsible for the parks, public areas and cemeteries in Webster City.

“The line department and the city have been all hands on deck helping with the clean-up,” Roden said Wednesday. “In addition, three or four of the large flag poles put up by the Legion snapped off due to the wind.”

He added that many smaller limbs have kept the crews cleaning up, which in turn has slowed the progress of mowing the grass and trimming around the headstones.

Monday’s winds also knocked out the electricity to the Memorial stage at Graceland where the Memorial Day program will be presented Monday, he said.

“We had either five or six poles that went down with the wind,” Rich Stroner, former commander of the American Legion Post 191, said. “We also had one vehicle back into one of the poles.”

Stoner said he received a call from Lynn Jaycox, who ran to the cemetery and quickly replaced the damaged sections.

“Each section costs $70, and we had just bought 15 units,” Stroner explained. “A single pole set is $400 for the flag and pole, then we replace it forever.”

The result of the work is a beautiful sight, with more than 550 flag poles in the cemetery.

When the wind or a vehicle damages the poles, it’s up to the Legion members to replace them. “We carry insurance,” Stoner said.

Roden talked about the greater issue of the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery which has also been impacted by the wind.

“The wind gusts have really changed how we respond,” he said. “We’ve sprayed some of the cemetery, but the winds have impacted our ability to complete all areas.”

Graceland is 65 acres of land with trees, plants and gravesites to maintain.

Cass Cemetery, located north of Webster City, had one large evergreen tree also go down due to the wind, according to Steve Struchen, Cass township trustee.

Justin Malloy, branch manager of Town & Country Insurance, confirmed that his agents were busy this week.

“We’ve had some claim activity over the last two days because of the weather that came through on Monday night. Mostly wind damage to homes in town and farm structures,” Malloy said.

“We’ve certainly had our fair share of weather events in Iowa over the last several years, which has significantly impacted property insurance in the state. The consistently high claim activity has resulted in higher premiums and coverage restrictions. A lot of carriers are now requiring much higher wind and hail deductibles.”

A tree service removes downed tree limbs that poked holes in a garage roof along the alley between First and Second streets in Webster City.