Omaha storm recovery: Keystone neighborhood among hardest hit areas in the city

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The July 31 storm was widespread, knocking down branches and trees across the Omaha-metro.

The Keystone neighborhood is left with massive tree damage -- with trees snapping off, and large branches sitting on top of homes.

Resident Brad Johnson had a lot going on in his home. A crew from G-P Lively Tree Co. is cleaning up the mess caused by the storm.

Johnson and his wife were in the house when the storm hit.

“My wife was on the north side of the house, looking to the west, and she witnessed the big branch come down. Of course she got a little bit excited and started screaming,” Johnson said.

Those big branches caused big damage to their home.

“The branch had gone through the ceiling and busted the beam going through the top of the ceiling. It did some pretty major damage inside and outside,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s next door neighbor, Spencer Danner, is also busy picking up the pieces that were once trees on his property of more than an acre.

“We had trees come down on top of the property, window damage, rood damage. We’ve got punctured damage that are inside the house, so we got a lot of water damage,” Danner said.

Danner has a lot of work to do. His goal is to get the driveway clear so they

can get big equipment in to get the big tree off his house.

“I’m blessed to have good neighbors who are willing to help out. I’ve got a lot of property, a lot of beautiful trees; unfortunately mother nature decided it was their time,” Danner said.

Over on Military Avenue and 67th Street, the Omaha Public Power District is also getting some help.

A crew from Southern Public Power District traveled more than 200 miles from Holdridge, Nebraska to help OPPD get lights back on. They are one of many crews in town up in the air helping out.

In the Holy Name neighborhood, Omaha crews are still working on their first priority -- getting the streets clear of debris.

There were a couple of trees that blocked roads near Fontenelle Blvd and 45th Ave.

Danilia Gable watched it all come down.

“I just watched that one come down and another piece of this one come down and pretty much just heard and watched it all come down...it was so windy and rainy you really couldn’t see a whole lot,” Gable said.

When the storm cleared and Gable could see, she discovered all three branches didn’t fall onto the street.

“The trees were up against here and this one was bent real bad,” Gable said.

Gable’s van is totaled, and it will be a process to get it replaced. Everyone knows it will take a lot of time to clear the streets and turn on all of the power.

But there are some people who are desperately trying to get back into normal day to day activity.

Officials with G-P Lively Tree Co. tell us they are very busy. The company is located in the Keystone neighborhood, and the company tells us right now they are only taking calls from people in the neighborhood.

“There’s too much work to be done just within the square mile, let alone 20 square miles,” said Greg Pedersen with the tree company. “This storm has really affected all of us, and we’re all inundated with work non-stop right now. So, we’re just trying to take care of the emergencies locally.”

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