UTAH

Storm clean up efforts from wind damage is bringing communities together

Sep 9, 2020, 6:27 PM

(Centerville residents dropping off timber at a collection point.  Credit: Paul Nelson)...

(Centerville residents dropping off timber at a collection point. Credit: Paul Nelson)

(Centerville residents dropping off timber at a collection point. Credit: Paul Nelson)

CENTERVILLE – Storm clean up efforts in Davis, Weber and Cache counties are still underway.  Entire communities are coming together to help clean up the trees that were knocked down by hurricane-force winds. 

Large piles of branches, limbs and tree trunks are lined up all along the streets of cities like Centerville, Farmington and Logan.  On Main Street in Centerville, you can see people chopping up what remains of a large tree that had been on Lynn Sessions’ property for decades.

(A 45 year-old tree being sectioned out to be hauled away on Lynn Sessions’ property. Credit: Paul Nelson)

He says, “My wife counted 45 rings in it, I think.”

He’s happy the tree didn’t destroy his fence when it fell.  A branch six inches in diameter caught most of the tree’s weight, preventing it from crushing anything else.  However, it did cut off the access to a house right behind his property.

“The next door neighbor, he came over yesterday and cut it all out of the roadway.  There’s a house in the rear and he cut all that so they can get to their house and get to the street,” Sessions says.

Nearby, branches and trunks by the truckload are being dropped off at a collection point in a parking lot for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Centerville officials have arranged to haul the wood to a landfill, so people like Robert Libby are hitching their trailers to their trucks and dropping off as much wood as they can.

(Some of the trees being piled up at church parking lot in Centerville. Credit: Paul Nelson)

It has been a daunting, tiring task, but the community came together to help clear out his property, and he felt he needed to return the favor.

Libby says, “It’s amazing.  I didn’t know there were that many trees.”

One row of parking spots was completely covered with wooden debris, reaching heights taller than the trucks that delivered it. 

“After just the little spot of a neighborhood we’ve [cleared] it doesn’t surprise me, at all.  We have to come back over and over, come back and unload.  It’s crazy,” Libby says.

However, there are already long lines at landfills filled with people trying to unload their green waste.  Davis Landfill Executive Director Nathan Rich isn’t sure how much debris he should expect.  In 2011, they took in 20 thousand more tons of waste due to strong winds knocking down trees, but the damage from this storm seems to be more widespread. 

Rich says, “We can handle the material.  We just can’t handle it all at once.”

The landfill is waiving their normal green waste collection fees for county residents for the next two weeks.  He hopes this will convince people to spread out their visits.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah

(Loren Richardson via KSL.com)...

Simone Seikaly

Brighton resident charged for confronting snowboarder with shotgun

According to court documents, and based on witness accounts, Keith Robert Stebbings threatened a snowboarder with a shotgun.

19 minutes ago

a cat and her kitten shown, Fawn's Family Rescue provides quality time with adoptable ctas...

Heather Peterson

Fawn’s Family Rescue provides lounge to interact with adoptable cats

Fawn's Family Rescue recently opened its doors in Bountiful. The new cat lounge provides a comfortable way for people to hang out with feline friends.

3 hours ago

Myrtle Spurge is often touted as deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, but the plant is rapidly inva...

Eliza Pace

Salt Lake County Health warns of harmful myrtle spurge plant

Myrtle spurge was originally introduced to Utah as a decorative plant but is an invasive species that has spread to natural areas.

8 hours ago

IRS texts are bogus. Picture shows a sign saying "warning, scam alert" on a keyboard...

Britt Johnson

Millions to be paid for Utah’s largest real estate scheme settlement

Over $10 million in refunds will go to victims of a Utah-based real estate scheme following the settlement of a lawsuit.

9 hours ago

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after he allegedly t...

Pat Reavy, ksl.com

West Jordan man shot, killed best friend while trying to ‘be funny,’ police say

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after shooting his "best friend."

18 hours ago

FILE: The bust of 30 pounds of fentanyl in American Fork on March 21 highlights the drug problem Ut...

Heather Peterson and Curt Gresseth

DEA warns fentanyl most deadly drug in U.S. and Utah history

The DEA said Utah is on pace to see double the amount of fentanyl this year than last.

21 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Storm clean up efforts from wind damage is bringing communities together