Community Corner

Your Storm Questions Answered: What to Do with Downed Limbs, Bad Restoration Times

You ask, Patch answers.

"You Ask, Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to all your questions—big, small and in-between—about the town we live and work in.

Whether it’s something you’ve always wondered about, some information you just can’t put your hands on or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it.

Send your queries to judy.davids@patch.com or leave them in the comments section below, and I will do my best to dig up an answer for you. You also can call me at 248-231-4667.

Find out what's happening in Royal Oakwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

How to dispose of downed branches and limbs

Patch reader John asks: Lots of my neighbors lost heavy branches and some trees during the brief, but powerful storm on Friday. I notice lots of my neighbors putting brush on the curbs. Will the city pick these up or do neighbors have to cut them up in the 3- foot lengths? What about the larger than normal branches?

To answer John's question, Patch talked to the Royal Oak Department of Public Service (DPS). Here's what they said:

Find out what's happening in Royal Oakwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A lot depends on where the tree is located and the size of the branches or limbs.

For trees on city property: In general, the city will pick up downed limbs from city trees; that is the tree is located in the easement between the curb and the public sidewalk. Residents can call 248-246-3300 to schedule a pick-up.

For trees on private property: If the tree is in a resident's yard, the owner is responsible for removal of woody material and there are a couple of options. 

Branches between 2- and 5-inches in diameter may be set at the  at curb by 7 a.m. on trash day. Brush must be bundled up to 4-feet long by 15-inches in diameter, and not weigh more than 40 pounds.

Owners may also have a contractor remove the woody material. The city's recommended contractor is: J H Hart at 586-795-5581.

Logs over 5-inch in diameter must be disposed of privately! Again, the city's recommended contractor is J H Hart. (See phone number above.)

For more information, visit the city's website.

Why are power restoration times wrong?

Patch reader Sarah writes: Power is still out. Every day DTE customer service tells us that power is expected to be back that night, we rely on that information and keep food in the fridge, etc., meanwhile, the workers in the neighborhood just told us to not expect power until Tuesday night! We all just wish DTE would give out realistic timelines so we can accurately assess how to handle it in the meantime. I have an 8-month-old and had I known the truth I would have stayed with friends instead of trying to wait it out.

To get a response to Sarah's dilemma, Patch spoke to Scott Simon, spokesperson for DTE Energy. Here's what he said:

To start, Simon reminds Patch readers that 145,000 customers lost power on Friday night and DTE was 85 percent accurate with its restoration times. He expects 98 percent of cutomers to have power back by tonight.

"We are working to provide better estimates," Simon said. "And we are making every effort to notify customers when estimation times change."

The powerful storm that whipped through the area Friday managed to uproot trees and snap in half several power poles, he said.

"Restoration is taking longer than we expected and it's impacting times," he said.

DTE appreciates the public's patience as they continue to work to restore power. To get the latest restoration times click on DTE's outage map.


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