Post-Storm Recovery Efforts Continue

(Washington, DC) – Crews from the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) with assistance from crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW), DC Water and Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS) continue to remove downed trees, branches and debris from District streets and neighborhoods. Damage caused by Friday night’s storm has generated more than 1,300 tree-related service requests for DDOT and its contractors, with the worst damage reported in Wards 3, 4 and 6.

Crews are currently concentrating on street trees that have fallen on homes, cars and power lines, and trees that are blocking roadways. Crews equipped with loaders and dump trucks are cleaning up large debris piles and in some cases stacking branches and debris away from the roadway.

Crews will be clearing alleys and tree related storm debris last and are aiming to completely remove all debris as quickly as possible.

Residents are reminded to stay clear of broken and hanging tree branches. These branches can fall at any time or in changing weather patterns. Residents are also reminded to stay away from downed wires as they could be energized and electrical contact could be fatal.

Even though most major roadways have been cleared of debris and have reopened, motorists are urged to continue to use caution while traveling throughout the District as some roads still remain closed due to downed trees that have landed on power lines and various traffic signals are still dark. Motorists are reminded to treat dark intersections as four-way stops.

District residents are reminded to call 311 or go online at 311.dc.gov to report downed trees and branches in public space. The service requests are immediately forwarded to DDOT’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA).

District residents are reminded that trees and branches that fall on or from private property are the responsibility of the property owners.

To report a power outage please call Pepco at 877-PEPCO62. Customers may report outages online at pepco.com or download Pepco’s smart phone app, pepco.com/mobileapp to report and track their outages.