Trees & Branches Down After Brief But Fierce Storm On Monday [Video]

After a brief but intense thunderstorm on Monday afternoon, neighbors have spotted many downed trees and branches around Ditmas Park.

[Update on 6/22: Check out this dramatic storm video from Argyle Road, from DPC reader Dan Pelson.]

With an abundance of old trees lining the neighborhood streets, even brief storms can lead to a cascade of fallen branches and sometimes entire trunks onto local streets, houses, and cars.

To report a damaged or fallen tree, the Parks Department website advises residents to call 311 or submit an online request, but notes that after a storm the first priority is clean-up for blocked roadways or dangerous areas.

The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation used to conduct a tree-pruning service in our area once every seven years, according to the Community Board 14 website, but the frequency has been reduced to a prune once every 10 years. Check this map to see when the last pruning occurred on your block.

Some neighbors we spoke to have expressed frustration at the sluggish removal process of reportedly dead trees, and have circumvented the Parks Department by filing a permit to prune a public tree, and then hiring a private service to cut down the dead branches.

We heard from neighbor Cathy Aks, who’s porch sustained damage by a fallen branch at 485 Argyle Road. Cathy told us that she hired a private Arborist to inspect the tree in May because the branch looked diseased, but before the Parks Department inspection could go through, the branch collapsed on Monday and hit the second-story roof. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Many trees also came crashing down in Prospect Park, as caught by a local photographer on Facebook:

If you suspect that a public tree is diseased, dead, or in need of removal, call 311 immediately or submit an inspection request through the Parks Department website, and follow your request via a tracking number to find out when an inspector will show up.

While we confirm the schedule for the Parks Department tree surveys and removal in our area, we wanted to open the forum up to readers. Do you have photos of downed trees from Monday’s short storm, or past storms? Do you have a story about calling 311 for tree removal? We want to hear from you! Leave comments below, or email us at editor@ditmasparkcorner.com.