Aurora Sees 'Significant Tree Damage' After Weekend Storms

AURORA, IL — Aurora experienced "significant tree damage" after storms rolled through the Chicagoland area Saturday night, with West Side residents seeing the most impact, Aurora Mayor John Laesch said in an update Monday evening.

More than 19,000 ComEd customers were without power, and many trees were damaged in wards 4, 5 and 6. More than 300 requests for service were filed through myAurora 311, Laesch said.

"In situations like this, a safe and timely recovery is our top priority," he said in a video address. "Following the storms, city staff immediately rose to the occasion and quickly assembled to begin addressing issues throughout the city."

As of Monday afternoon, the city's Street Maintenance Division completed almost half of all calls for service, deploying all crews as well as some contracted help, and ComEd restored service to about 90 percent of customers.

Crews are working around the clock to answer all calls, Laesch said.

For the next two weeks, residents can place fallen branches and tree limbs on the curb right away — "There is no need to wait until your garbage day for this service," city officials wrote on Facebook Monday evening.

Branches and limbs measuring between half an inch to four inches in diameter and two to four feet in length must be bundled. Each bundle has to weigh less than 50 pounds and can be placed on the curb without a waste sticker. For brush less than a half-inch in diameter to be picked up, it must be placed in a paper yard waste bag with a sticker attached.

"Aurora, we're a strong, tight-knit community," Laesch said. "I want to again thank our first responders and public employees that worked so hard in the hot, humid conditions to clean up our streets. I also want to thank the community for really stepping up to look after your neighbors by helping with their downed trees, and helping to clear off streets and sidewalks in your neighborhood. That's what makes us all stronger together."