Still have tree debris? Lincoln Parks and Rec battling big backlog
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Several areas in Lincoln are still dealing with broken branches and tree debris from a major storm in early August.
The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department is working on the cleanup, but some residents said it’s taking too long.
Many community members decided to rally together to help each other out.
John McHenry still remembers the moment the big storm hit.
“Watched a lot of tree branches fall,” he said. “Not just branches — limbs. An entire tree down the street fell and landed on someone’s fence.”
McHenry’s neighbor and friend Kelly Ledbetter said after he couldn’t get immediate confirmation that Parks and Rec would stop by their area, he took matters into his own hands.
“They were unsure if the city was going to pick up the branches,” Ledbetter said, though the representative was “very nice about it.”
He wasted no time hauling two loads of debris to the park with his son, saying, “I think a lot of people down this street did the same thing.”
SEE ALSO: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen issues disaster declaration after destructive August storms
As of Tuesday, Parks and Recreation said it has been informed of over 1,500 different locations that are in need of tree inspection.
Spokeswoman Kat Scholl said with only three certified inspectors at the department, it’s a process.
Scholl said 877 locations have already been inspected and assigned to one of the tree teams.
But of the 877, only 101 jobs have been completed.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska Department of Corrections reveals extensive damage at state penitentiary
Scholl said the department has only 21 field workers to handle the hundreds of reports and prioritizes the removal of trees that block roads.
“I understand that for them because that takes a lot of time and money to go down all the streets and assess all the damage,” Ledbetter said. “I’m understanding about it. Hey, if we can all help out our community, then that’s what it’s all about. ”
McHenry said it he and some neighbors cleaned up a tree limb that was blocking the road.
“We almost had a couple of accidents here, so we thought the best thing to do was get it off the road,” he said.
SEE ALSO: ‘Bolted awake’: Seward residents wake up to damage from Saturday’s severe storm
