Croton & Ossining Storm Cleanup Continues

Crews and residents could still be seen cleaning up debris from Friday's microburst that ripped through Croton and Ossining. Officials say Ossining and Croton residents can put storm debris out on the curb. Both communities will be picking up debris during their regularly scheduled yard waste collection days. Croton's next yard waste collection day is August 17 for people who live north of 129. For those south of 129 the next pickup day will be August 10. The Village of Ossining continues its yard waste pickup on Monday and Tuesday.

The National Weather service said that a microburst caused the Friday storm. A microburst is an intense and narrow downdraft of air that causes quick changes in wind speed and direction. Officials from the National Weather Service said that the microburst started on the Croton River along Route 9. From there it moved southeast to Central Ossining. That's when the microburst ripped apart trees on Cedar Lane Terrace and Meadowbrook Drive, but other areas in Ossining and Croton were also hit hard. Workers could still be seen cutting down and removing massive trees and tree limbs at off Route 9. Just north of the 9A exit on Route 9, workers could be seen clearing debris and working on power lines on the east side of the road.

All lanes on Rt. 129 are open today. Only one lane had been open due to the cleanup. The State Department of Transportation was intermittently working on the road along with Con Ed crews who were dealing with electrical wire issues. "Some of the wires in front of one of the houses on 129 were not down, but they were dragging on the ground," said Village Manager Abe Zambrano. "Some of the areas hardest hit were Glengary Rd., Maple, Rt. 129, Church St., Harrison St. and the east end of Cleveland Dr."

Town of Ossining Highway Superintendent Michael G. O'Connor says crews will be coming to residents' homes with a wood chipper on Thursday and Friday. "By driving around town and seeing how much debris is out, you can almost tell where the winds must have hit the most," said O'Connor. O'Connor says he's seen the most debris in the Cedar Ln. area, Stormytown Rd. and Ganung Dr. O'Connor urges residents to not tie up any of their debris. Residents should simply leave the debris in a pile for pickup.