ARKANSAS, USA — Benton County has created a new website containing all information about reporting damage, removing debris, volunteering, community resources, or facility closures— click here for more details.
With severe weather creating extensive damage in Northwest Arkansas early Sunday morning, many residents are trying to clean up their homes, businesses, and communities.
Although county officials have been working to clean up, a lot of the areas riddled with debris won't be cleared for a few days.
Here are a couple of resources to help residents put the pieces back together and direct residents on how to dispose of excess tree limbs and debris.
Debris Pick up
The county began picking up debris on Monday, June 17, for "county-maintained roads." Looks Great Services will pick up vegetative debris and construction and demolition debris in the most affected areas. County officials said "there will be approximately three weeks between each pass of an area."
What to do:
Officials have released the following instructions:
- Place your debris in the public right of way now.
- Keep debris "at least four feet away" from mailboxes, water meters, fire hydrants, above-ground utilities, drainage ditches, swales, pipes, inlets and street signs.
- Separate vegetative debris from construction and demolition debris.
Vegetative debris includes root balls, whole trees, tree stumps, tree branches, tree trunks, and other leafy material. Construction and demolition debris includes damaged building parts such as lumber, glass, metal, tile, furnishings, fixtures, wallboards, etc.
What not to do:
- Do not place debris near low-hanging powerlines, street intersections, or neighbor's properties.
- Do not bag debris, as only loose debris will be picked up.
Centerton
The city of Centerton said they have started to collect tree limbs from residential areas.
"We encourage residents to place all limbs at their curbs," Anthony Martinez with the Public Works Department said. "We will assist when possible. We will not enter residents' backyards. We will also not attempt to remove trees from power lines, even if they think the lines are dead."
The city said they will not pick up any trash, debris, construction material, lumber, or chemicals. They will pick up any natural vegetation, such as tree limbs, branches, or bushes.
Martinez asked residents to be patient during the clean-up process. He did not give a timeline for when it will be complete.
Curbside storm debris pick-up for residential properties has begun for Rogers residents. Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
"This will be a long process and we appreciate your patience as we work to clean up our community," the city said.
The City of Rogers has contracted Looks Great Solutions to pick up residents' vegetative debris. They are only focusing on vegetative debris right now — root balls will be picked up later on.
The contractors will not be able to enter private property, but they will pick up all debris their equipment can reach from the side of the road.
The city asks residents to place all vegetative materials at the curb in the meantime. The contractors will make their way to each residential area, so there is no need for residents to contact the city to schedule a pick-up time.
For now, the city is asking that residents to place limbs near the street and to cut them as short as possible and do not place limbs on water meters, gas meters, or downed electric poles or wires.
Make a separate pile for any debris other than limbs. Keep garbage and recycling bins separate from the storm debris, so LRS can access your bins for trash pick up.
There are also two waste drop-off sites for residents.
Garfield has deployed contractors to begin picking up any vegetative debris left on residents' curb or right of way.
Crews will not be able to enter private property, but they will be able to pick up any material from the side of the road.
Make a separate pile for any debris other than limbs. Keep garbage and recycling bins separate from the storm debris.
These crews will be using large grapple claws, so the city advises residents to not stack debris on water meters, gas meters, or downed electric poles or wires.
If residents need assistance in cutting up or moving debris, the City of Garfield said they will connect them with volunteer agencies that can help. Email the city at garfieldtornadohelp@gmail.com.
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