Storms leave swath of damage across Omaha
With his chain saw idle for a moment, Ray Agosta happily took a break for the glass of ice water offered by his wife, Marilyn.
Before them Sunday afternoon were piles of downed tree limbs. Nearby, Sharon Street in northeast Omaha was still choked with limbs. If the tucked-away road was to be cleared and their 80-plus-year-old aunt’s yard was to be cleaned up, it seemed up to these two 60-somethings.
“This is not easy,” Marilyn Agosta said. “If we were younger, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. It’s overwhelming.”
As thousands of metro area residents faced another night without power, and as chain saws could be heard buzzing in neighborhoods, Omahans got some good news Sunday:
More than 80% of power outages were likely to be repaired by day’s end, and the city’s trash crews will pick up limbs curbside this week.
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Numerous rules apply to the curbside pickup, so the service won’t solve every problem residents face, but it will help, the Agostas said.
“We can get this to the curb,” Ray Agosta said. “But we need some help with the big stuff.”
Still, progress with complete power restoration could take until Friday, the Omaha Public Power District said late Sunday night. While the utility hopes to have 99% of the outages repaired by midnight Tuesday, the final 1%, perhaps 1,800 customers, could take until Friday, OPPD announced.
Parents of summer school students got some not-so-good news: The Omaha Public Schools canceled summer school and related programing for Monday because of power outages. The Meals2Go pickup was rescheduled to Tuesday.
As the Agostas surveyed their mess, many residents in densely treed parts of the metro area faced another night without power. Some lucky residents were able to run extension cords to their neighbor’s home to power their refrigerators and freezers. Others hauled coolers of food to friends’ homes. Others fretted over the cost of pitching a freezer full of meat, given the uncertainty of when they might get power back.
There was a reason for the upheaval: It was a record-setting storm.
The storm was as powerful as any windstorm known to have struck Omaha, according to the National Weather Service, and it obliterated the previous record for power outages, according to the Omaha Public Power District.
Straight-line winds reached 96 mph early Saturday morning, similar to an EF-1 tornado or a Category 2 hurricane ripping through the metropolitan area. The last time the wind blew that strong in Omaha was Aug. 23, 2016, when a much smaller storm set the city’s wind record, said weather service meteorologist Brian Smith.
Underscoring the storm’s extraordinary power and reach, it caused 188,000 power outages in OPPD’s service area. That is 20% more than the previous record, the 156,000 outages on June 27, 2008. (The historic snowstorm that pummeled a Halloween-decorated Omaha in October 1997 left 150,000 in the dark.)
As of 7 a.m. Monday, about 40,000 OPPD customers remained without power, according to the district’s outage map. Most were in Omaha, generally east of 120th Street.
Laura King-Homan, an OPPD spokeswoman, said Sunday that the utility didn’t have a timeline for how long it will take to fully restore power.
The utility estimated that 85% of the outages would be restored by midnight Sunday, leaving some 30,000 still without power for a third day on Monday.
Crews have been working around the clock, and OPPD set an internal record: deploying more workers than ever before to get power back online — 539 crew members, King-Homan said.
“That’s the most people we’ve ever had working on a storm,” she said. “That shows you the severity.”
The utility repeated its warning that people not touch or approach power lines. Report downed lines at OPPD.com or by calling 800-554-6773.

A broken windshield from a fallen tree near 63rd and Maple Streets.
We are not letting up on restoration efforts. There are currently 178 crews consisting of 539 personnel working to restore power. Today, crews are encountering areas w/ dense vegetation tangled in our power lines. We must remove vegetation before restoration work can continue. pic.twitter.com/AfNTBeJHQy
— OPPDCares (@OPPDCares) July 11, 2021
The City of Omaha’s six debris drop-off sites were busy Sunday and will remain open through Wednesday.
Victor Hogan, who hauled a pickup load to Levi Carter Park, said the drop-off site was “a huge help.”
While people complained of long waits at some sites, James May, who was emptying his second pickup load Sunday afternoon at Levi Carter, said changes there had sped up the lines. In the morning, he had to wait about 40 minutes, but by the afternoon, with multiple drop stations in the parking lot, the line moved quickly.
“These storms are bound to happen,” he said. Like the Agostas, he said curbside pickup was sorely needed. “There are a lot of people who need help.”
The drop-off sites, open from dawn to dusk, are at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in the Elkhorn area; Hefflinger Park at 112th Street and West Maple Road; Towl Park near 90th Street and West Center Road; the parking lot at 156th and F Streets; Levi Carter Park at the concrete boat ramp; and Al Veys Park at 6506 S. 60th St.
Most streets had been cleared of debris and were passable by Sunday.
But hazards remained, either from partially or fully blocked roads or from limbs dangerously dangling over sidewalks and streets. Carrie Murphy, a spokeswoman for the city, said people can report problems with public trees or blocked roads to the Mayor’s Hotline at 402-444-5555. Generally, public trees are those in the grassy area between the sidewalk and the street or in medians.
Curbside pickup is being offered this week only, unless something changes. The pickup will be done by crews with the city’s trash hauler, FCC Environmental Services, as they make their regular rounds.
Tree debris can be put in yard waste bags or small bundles that have been tied together, but the city asks that people first completely fill their carts with yard waste before turning to bags or bundles. Crews will be manually loading bags and bundles into 96-gallon carts, and then activating the trucks’ lifts to get the debris inside. Because of this extra work, residents should expect delays in trash pickup, according to the city.
Bundles should be no longer than 4 feet and weigh about 40 pounds or less. Prepaid stickers won’t be required for yard waste bags.
Any limbs wider than 6 inches in diameter or longer than 6 feet should be taken to a drop-off site, the city said.
Photos: July 2021 storm leaves swath of damage across Omaha

A tree fell on a house near 45th and Mayberry Streets in an overnight storm July 9-10.

Courtney Hudson, 42, of Omaha, gets his hair cut by Mark Nelson, the owner of Another Level Barbershop, outside the shop during a power outage after a severe thunderstorm overnight. Photographed at 64th and Maple Streets in Omaha on Saturday.

An Omaha Public Power District vehicle drives past a car damaged by a fallen tree near 63rd and Maple Streets on July 10. The storm knocked out power to 188,000 homes and businesses, OPPD’s biggest outage in history. But the effort to restore power was also OPPD’s most aggressive and best-coordinated restoration, CEO Javier Fernandez said.

Justin Willey uses heavy machinery to remove downed trees near his Ponca Hills property on Tuesday.

Mike Jerina mows his lawn while carrying a chainsaw and hauling downed branches he cleared from his Ponca Hills home on Tuesday.

James Moyle, left, and Frank Arch sit in a shelter at Miller Park next to a pile of tree debris on Tuesday. They were dressed as flies for an event in the park by Mandela Elementary. A storm over the weekend damaged thousands of trees and knocked out power in the Omaha area.

Courtney Hudson, 42, of Omaha, gets his hair cut by Mark Nelson, the owner of Another Level Barbershop, outside the shop during a power outage after a severe thunderstorm overnight. Photographed at 64th and Maple Streets in Omaha on Saturday.

A tree branch hangs in wires after an overnight storm caused wind damage in Omaha on Saturday, July 10.

A broken windshield from a fallen tree near 63rd and Maple Streets.

A tree fell on a house near 45th and Mayberry Streets during an overnight storm on Saturday, July 10.


Nick King cleans up tree branches out of 45th Street, south of Marcy Street after an overnight storm on Saturday.

Nick King cleans up tree branches out of 45th Street, south of Marcy Street after an overnight storm on Saturday.

A tree landed on a car near 31st Street and Layafette Avenue after an overnight storm on Saturday.

A tree landed on a car near 31st Street and Lafayette Avenue in a storm on Saturday, July 10.

A tree landed on a car near 31st Street and Lafayette Avenue during the storm.

A tree fell into the street near 32nd Street and Layafette Avenue after an overnight storm on Saturday.

A tree fell and brought down power lines near 32nd Street and Layafette Avenue after an overnight storm on Saturday.

A downed tree is seen in Miller Park in North Omaha on Saturday.

Storm damage is seen in a workout area of Miller Park in North Omaha on Saturday.

Tree branches partially cover roads through Miller Park in North Omaha on Saturday.

Tree branches cover walking trails through Miller Park in North Omaha on Saturday.

The trunk of a large tree is seen broken at Miller Park in North Omaha on Saturday.

A large tree covers Kansas Avenue in North Omaha on Saturday.

A tree landed on a car in downtown Omaha during the windstorm that hit the metro area July 10. The storm caused extensive damage, but no one was killed or seriously injured. That was likely due to the storm occurring overnight.

Clean up is underway across Omaha after early morning storms.

Large parts of downed trees are a common site across Omaha on Saturday.

A broken tree trunk is seen in Miller Park in North Omaha on Saturday.

Courtney Hudson, 42, of Omaha gets his hair cut by owner Mark Nelson outside Another Level Barbershop during a power outage Saturday.

Tree branches block the road at the intersection of Chicago Street and Happy Hollow Boulevard in Omaha on Saturday.

Police cars block 60th Street as crew work to break down and remove trees in Omaha on Saturday.

A large tree leans over John and Jennifer Bertino's house on 60th Street in Omaha on Saturday.

Phil Rossi, right, and Rob Molony help neighbors cut tree branches near 60th and Mason Streets in Omaha on Saturday.

Residents near 60th and Mason Streets pulled trees to the end of the intersection to block cars from driving under a downed powerline on July 10.

John Bertino blows sawdust out of the street after neighbors help clear downed branches on Mason Street in Omaha on Saturday.

A severe thunderstorm rolls through North Omaha on Saturday.

A severe thunderstorm rolls through North Omaha on Saturday.

A power pole that split can be seen near 45th and Mayberry Streets after an over night storm on Saturday.

A power pole that split can be seen near 45th and Mayberry Streets after an over night storm on Saturday.

Sara Smith walks her dog Ellie south on 45th Street towards Poppleton Avenue next to a trampoline that blew out of a neighboring yard and appeared to have hit a power line before coming to rest on a speed bump after an overnight storm caused power outages and tree damage in the area on Saturday.

A car drives south on 45th Street towards Poppleton Avenue next to a trampoline that blew out of a neighboring yard and appeared to have hit a power line before coming to rest on a speed bump after an overnight storm caused power outages and tree damage in the area on Saturday.

The top of a structure blew off of 2602 O street in Omaha after a storm blew threw overnight and caused widespread power outages on Saturday.

Zachary Urwin of Catholic Cemeteries cleans up tree debris from St. Mary's cemetery in South Omaha after an overnight windstorm caused major tree damage on Saturday.

Tree debris rests near a headstone at St. Mary's cemetery in South Omaha after an overnight windstorm caused major tree damage on Saturday.

Roof tiles were blown off of St Mary's Catholic Church's roof at 2539 Q Street after an overnight storm on Saturday.

A tree sits on Dodge Street near 66th Street as traffic was blocked both ways at the UNO's northeast and northwest entries. on Saturday.

OPPD works to restore power on Dodge Street near UNO on Saturday.

Metal is wrapped around a headstone at St. Mary's cemetery in South Omaha after an overnight windstorm caused major tree damage on Saturday.

Tree debris rests near a headstone at St. Mary's cemetery in South Omaha after an overnight windstorm caused major tree damage on Saturday.

Tree debris knocked over a headstone at St. Mary's cemetery in South Omaha after an overnight windstorm caused major tree damage on Saturday.

Justin Willey uses heavy machinery to remove downed trees near his Ponca Hills property on Tuesday.

A 96-gallon cart is filled completely with yard waste. City collection of larger storm debris will begin Friday and continue through July 23.

A worker in a city truck picks up yard waste bags while an FCC worker picks up the 96-gallon trash cart on Tuesday. The city is having to find a way to collect all the tree debris after a weekend storm.

Large logs cut from a downed tree set on Rainwood Road near North 30th Avenue on Tuesday.

James Moyle, left, and Frank Arch sit in a shelter at Miller Park next to a pile of tree debris on Tuesday. They were dressed as flies for an event in the park by Mandela Elementary. A storm over the weekend damaged thousands of trees and knocked out power in the Omaha area.

Frank Arch runs through Miller Park next to a pile of tree debris on Tuesday. He were dressed as a fly for an event in the park by Mandela Elementary. A storm over the weekend damaged thousands of trees and knocked out power in the Omaha area.

Steve Hamilton has been living in his his front yard, photographed on Tuesday. A massive weekend storm left him without power. Hamilton was stuck in house as downed powerlines stretched across his driveway at a heigh of a few feet, preventing him from driving to anywhere. His RV was prepared for a trip that was canceled because of the storm.

Steve Hamilton points to his RV that he has been living in parked in his front yard on Tuesday. A massive weekend storm left him without power. Hamilton was stuck in house as downed powerlines stretched across his driveway at a heigh of a few feet, preventing him from driving to anywhere. His RV was prepared for a trip that was canceled because of the storm.

A large tree lies broken in Elmwood Park after the July wind storm.

Broken tree branches line a closed road in Elmwood Park on Monday.

A large tree felled in Elmwood Park. Parks Director Matt Kalcevich said some of the downed trees at Elmwood will take several days to remove because they are so big.

The remainder of a tree stump in Elmwood Park on Monday. Some of the larger trees could take days to remove.

City workers clear out tree debris in Elmwood Park on Monday. The golf course also is closed.

A city worker clears fallen tree branches in Elmwood Park on Monday.

City of Omaha workers clear tree debris in Elmwood Park on Monday.

A City of Omaha worker loads trucks with downed tree branches in Elmwood Park on Monday. The midtown park is closed because of tree damage. So is Elmwood Golf Course, but crews are working to have the links open by the weekend, if not sooner.

A city worker rakes tree debris in Elmwood Park on Monday.

City of Omaha crews work to remove a fallen silver maple tree tangled with power lines near 40th and California Streets on Monday.

City of Omaha crews work to remove a tree near 40th and California Streets after Saturday's severe storm.

City of Omaha crews work on Monday to remove a fallen silver maple tree near 40th and California Streets. A supervisor expected it to take about three hours.

Tony Jackson, 61, and Tammy Kozak, 46, chat on outside Jackson's apartment in Omaha. Jackson's power was restored Sunday night. "I love camping," he said. "I just find something positive in the negative. My prayer is that everybody is safe and sound."

A drone image of people unloading branches from their vehicles Monday at a tree debris drop-off location at Al Veys Park near 60th and Harrison Streets.

Jose Sanchez, 73, of Omaha tosses tree debris from the bed of his truck at a drop-off location at Al Veys Park on Monday. It was Sanchez's fourth load of tree limbs, and he said he had more to clear at home.

An alleyway is blocked Monday by a silver maple tree that had fallen near 40th and California Streets.

A drone image of people unloading branches from their vehicles at a tree debris drop-off location at Al Veys Park on Monday.

People unload branches from their trucks at Al Veys Park on Monday.

Jose Sanchez, 73, of Omaha tosses tree debris from the bed of his truck at Al Veys Park on Monday.

Someone unloads tree branches next to charred pile of tree debris in the foreground after a fire at Levi Carter Park on Friday. The boat ramp area is one of the places to drop off tree branches after the July 10th storm.

Smoke rises out of a charred pile of tree debris after a fire at Levi Carter Park on Friday. The boat ramp area is one of the places to drop off tree branches after the July 10th storm.

Smoke rises out of a charred pile of tree debris after a fire at Levi Carter Park on Friday. The boat ramp area is one of the places to drop off tree branches after the July 10th storm.
reece.ristau@owh.com, 402-444-1127, @reecereports