The City of Plano announced earlier this week that the community’s first storm debris collection sweep was completed some seven weeks after a severe weather system blew through North Texas.
The early morning storms that hit the area in the early morning hours of May 28 blew down trees and power lines, scattered debris, and knocked out power for thousands of electricity customers.
City crews immediately began the cleanup efforts in Plano, working seven days a week to remove brush and debris, as The Dallas Express reported. During this first sweep of the community, city crews collected more than 90,000 cubic yards of storm debris.
The work crews have begun a second sweep of the city, focusing on “collecting any remaining large piles using claw trucks. Crews will also clear alley and street collection points of accumulated yard debris bags and smaller debris piles using our regular collection trucks,” the city reported on social media.
During this second sweep, “City crews will be working in their regular collection areas, rather than working east-to-west in tandem with our hired contractors.”
The city got some extra help this weekend, as the Rotary Club of Plano has volunteered to assist with the cleanup efforts.
“The city’s had a hard time getting it all cleaned up, and it’s just such a large amount of debris, and that’s what we are,” John Priest, the local Rotary Club president, said during a board meeting on July 18, NBC 5 DFW reported. “We are a service club. We’re always trying to do special projects.”
The group helped cut down branches and pick up debris on Saturday.
Steve Funk with the City of Plano told NBC 5 that storm cleanup is two to three weeks away from completion and that normal operations will resume after it is completed.
A tracking map is available for Plano residents to follow the cleanup progress in their neighborhood.