Public Trees vs. Private Trees
In the wake of the mega-storm that swept through the Twin Cities early Friday evening, local media are full of photos showing downed trees, crushed cars, etc.
So, what’s different about the photo above?
The Honda minivan under the 10-ton tree is . . . ours.
It was parked in our driveway when the winds kicked up Friday, and seconds later was very much underneath our neighbors’ (now ours?) 10-ton box elder tree.
First we heard a huge thud in the back of the house, followed by the Honda’s car alarm.
Aside from rattled nerves, some other property damage, and lost power (see below), thankfully, we suffered no other consequences.
Aftermath
Kudos to our insurance company, Chubb, and Keith Yetzer’s YTS Companies, whose tree removal workers cleared the debris from our driveway and backyard by late Saturday afternoon.
My wife and I have never seen so many hard-working people go about their job(s) so efficiently.
Ditto for Honda, the manufacturer of our (presumably former) minivan.
Once the tree was removed, it immediately started and — amazingly — was actually driveable (at least around the block).
Much less distinguished: Xcel Energy, still nowhere to be found in our neighborhood (my household and most of our neighbors remain without power); and the City of Minneapolis, similarly AWOL.
As I write this Sunday morning, practically all the downed trees on private property have now been removed, while all the ones on city boulevards that fell . . . remain exactly where they are, blocking streets and sidewalks.
The one exception: the Sunset Boulevard (city) tree that fell in the street and was blocking traffic.
Unable to get to their client’s property to remove their tree, a private company first disposed of the city’s tree.
