Cleanup efforts are under way in Little Neck, Queens, as city‑hired crews and an independent contractor from Rhode Island begin the painstaking task of removing trees toppled by the powerful nor’easter that swept through New York City this past weekend.
Local crews on the front lines
“We left our shop at about 4 o’clock this morning, got here just before 8 a.m., but we’ll be here for the next couple of days,” said Brett Langless of Warwick Tree Service, the Rhode Island‑based firm brought in to assist the city. Langless and his crew are scheduled to remove 12 more trees on Monday, adding to the dozens already cleared in the area.
Ring‑camera footage captured one of the massive trees as it crashed down on Sunday, crushing two parked cars. Kathy, the owner of a damaged Acura, recalled hearing the crash and rushing outside. “Oh, by goodness, that’s unfortunate, but I was just kind of relieved that no one was under the tree, or in the car,” she said.
Tragic loss in Brooklyn
While most of the damage has been limited to property, the storm claimed a life in Brooklyn. Leighton Brown, a 56‑year‑old NYCHA worker, was killed when a tree fell in East New York on Saturday afternoon. “Broke my heart. He was a person who would come in without question, and he did his job, and he did his job well,” tenant Kevin Duran said of Brown.
Citywide impact and response
City officials estimate that nearly 1,000 trees have fallen across the five boroughs. The Department of Transportation reported that only 51 customers experienced power outages citywide, a relatively limited impact on electrical service given the storm’s intensity.
New York City Emergency Management is urging residents to submit damage reports and file 311 service requests. The information helps the city assess the extent of damage and supports any request for federal disaster assistance if needed. Residents can also report dangerous tree conditions through the NYC Parks website or by calling 311, and are advised to call 911 for downed power lines or immediate danger.
Why the cleanup matters
Removing fallen trees quickly restores safe travel on streets and sidewalks, protects homes and businesses from further damage, and reduces the risk of additional accidents. As Langless noted, “Over the past couple of years, we’ve had a lot of hurricanes hit. So, we’ve been doing a lot more storm work than usual,” highlighting the growing need for robust storm‑response capabilities in the region.
For residents who have suffered property damage, the city’s 311 system remains the primary avenue for assistance. Officials continue to monitor the situation and will update the public as additional resources become available.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
