LITTLE NECK, Queens (WABC) — The cleanup of storm-damaged trees continued in Queens Monday as city-contracted crews worked to remove fallen trees brought down by a powerful nor’easter that swept through New York City.
On 255th Street in Little Neck, Queens, an independent contractor hired by the city traveled from Rhode Island to assist with the cleanup.
“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.
Ring camera video captured one of the fallen trees as it collapsed Sunday, crushing two cars below. Kathy, the owner of a damaged Acura, said she rushed outside after hearing the crash.
“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.
The fallen tree was one of nearly 1,000 that came down across the five boroughs, according to city officials. The city said it received thousands of calls following the nor’easter, which brought heavy rain and high winds to the area.
One of the fallen trees turned deadly Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn. Leighton Brown, a 56-year-old NYCHA worker, was killed in East New York.
“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.
Back in Queens, the Rhode Island crew faced a lengthy workload, with 12 more trees scheduled for removal Monday.
“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,” Langless said.
Asked whether tree removal is a good business to enter right now, Langless replied: “I’d say so, especially now.”
New York City Emergency Management is urging residents affected by the storm to submit damage reports and file 311 service requests. Officials said the information helps the city assess the extent of damage and support any request for federal disaster assistance if needed.
Dangerous tree conditions can also be reported through the NYC Parks website or by calling 311. Officials advised residents to call 911 if they encounter downed power lines or anyone in immediate danger.
Despite the widespread tree damage, city officials reported a relatively limited impact on electrical service, with only 51 reported cases of power loss citywide.
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