Urbana Public Works Intensifies Cleanup Operations After Severe...

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Following two successive rounds of severe storms that swept across Central Illinois on Wednesday and Thursday nights, public works teams are diligently working to ensure that essential areas in their cities remain accessible and safe.

The Urbana Public Works Department reported receiving over 100 service calls on Friday as residents began dealing with the aftermath of winds that exceeded 70 mph.

In Danville, the storms were so intense that they tore the roof off an elementary school, sending it crashing into a nearby home.

Troy Richmond from Urbana Public Works shared a list of sites where they responded to calls, stating that they had attended to more than 50 locations on Friday alone. He discussed their operational strategy and reflected on both the challenges and fulfillment of their work.

“It’s been quite eventful,” Richmond remarked.

“People just coming home from work or just waking up in the morning and saying, ‘oh, look, there’s a giant tree in my yard,’” Richmond said. “‘Could somebody come by and take a look at this?’ So, we’ve been to at least 50 sites today.”

Richmond said during storms, they’re focused almost exclusively on keeping roads clear. They worked from Thursday night until 1 a.m. the next day.

“We reassessed at 7 a.m. and started to take crews out to try to do a little bit more extensive cleanup,” Richmond said. “But our primary responsibility still is the safety and health of everybody that’s around.”

WCIA’s Tyler Hill got to tag along for their work at two sites. Including one off of East Hunter Street. These long days give Richmond an opportunity to reflect on why he does this job at all.

“It’s unique. Not a lot of people get to do this or see the side of the job, and the public service is part of why I work for the City of Urbana,” Richmond said. “So, I enjoy helping the public and trying to make the streets safe.”

He also has one piece of advice for those living in a tree-heavy city like Urbana, or any city for that matter. He said to look up when you see branches on the road or sidewalk — where that fallen limb came from might still have debris waiting to drop. So, he asks everyone to be aware of their surroundings.

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Urbana Public Works Intensifies Cleanup Operations After Severe Weather Impact

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