Omaha storm cleanup: 3 debris sites to stay open through Sunday
City reminds residents to place debris left for collections crews at the curb, not in alleys or the street
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The City of Omaha will keep three of its debris drop-off sites open through the weekend.
A spokeswoman with the mayor’s office said Al Veys Field, Hefflinger Park, and Levi Carter Park sites will remain open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Sunday; but that the Greenbriar Park site as well as the one at 156th and F streets are full.
Residents have been encouraged to use the city’s drop-off sites to get debris cleared from their property faster. Officials have said it could take weeks before all debris from the July 31 storm is collected. Many around the area experienced 60-90 mph wind gusts several times over a half-hour window as the storm moved through, knocking out power to more than 220,000 OPPD customers — many of them for several days.
Meanwhile, Omaha Public Works will continue curbside collection in neighborhoods, but the city is asking residents to make sure that debris is placed only at the curbs.
"City crews are finding debris piled in the street in neighborhoods, creating safety hazards. We are also finding debris piled in alleys,” the spokeswoman said. “There will not be an additional alley collection — everything needs to be on the curb.”
Elmwood Park resident Jake Johnson told 6 News he had put his tree limbs and branches by the curb Aug. 4. He said the city picked up tree debris at homes on the north half of his block—including at his next-door neighbor’s home—but that they still haven’t picked up any on the south half.
“I know that they had some crews come by and picking up our neighbor’s branches,” Johnson said. “It’d be nice if they’d been able to pick up ours at the same time or just gave more communication on the schedule.
“It doesn’t look good. It’s annoying to step over when you’re loading a kid into a car seat, but it’s not the end of the world.”
Omaha residents were told they could use their garbage bins for small tree debris, but that they must place branches — of any size — at the curb; city employees will not come into yards or driveways to retrieve the branches.
Staff at the Elmwood 18 Hole Golf Course told 6 News it reopened Monday after they determined it was safe enough.
Residents can track the city’s progress on curbside collections on an interactive map.
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