05-16-2007 City Crews Clear Over 150,000 lbs of Debris in First Day of Storm Cleanup Effort

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o�sou Tx � dx :J b W eFacE � � 0) 1865 NEWS RELEASE May 16, 2007 3:00 p.m. Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 Gary Gilot, Director of Public Works, 235-9251 City Crews Clear Over 150,000 lbs of Debris in First Day of Storm Cleanup Effort Multiple City departments have suspended normal operations for today and tomorrow and have gone into storm cleanup mode in an effort to clear the City of debris after yesterday's significant wind storm. The fifty-four mile/hour winds, which hit South Bend around 5:00pm Tuesday, brought down twenty-six trees (or major portions of trees) and countless limbs. Many of the fallen trees ended up in streets and public right of ways, while others fell against houses and cars. Four City traffic signals were also damaged in the storm. Departmental supervisors went on reconnaissance around the City last night, putting out cones and moving trees and limbs out of the street. Where electric hazards were present the City deferred to I & M and tree crews. Early this morning, over 125 people in crews from the Divisions of Streets, Parks, Sewers, Traffic and Lighting, Solid Waste and City garages began supporting the cleanup effort with the Waterworks Department on standby if needed. "The plan is to work as many hours as it takes to get the City cleaned up today," said Gary Gilot, Director of Public Works. "We've started the cleanup by focusing on the public rights of way. Those should be cleared by tonight." City crews will suspend normal operations again tomorrow, as they focus on removing trees from cars and homes. Early this morning, the Street Commissioner began collecting and sending status reports to the Mayor and Public Works Director. Reports followed every two hours throughout the day.