Not an earthquake: Wind storm splits huge tree that falls into Modesto house
Modesto resident Steven Smith thought an earthquake was shaking his home Monday evening. But it was a huge Modesto Ash, cracking in two and landing on his roof and truck during the wind storm that swept through the area.
On Wednesday, a city crew came out and worked to clear the branches while Smith assessed damages to his home on Emerson Avenue, southeast of Rumble Road and McHenry Avenue.
One of the limbs punctured a hole in the roof. It didn’t break through the ceiling inside but he and his partner avoided that half of the house, the living room and the kitchen, for fear that it would come through.
Smith said he called the city’s forestry division right away.
Deputy City Manager Caluha Barnes old The Bee a crew responded to the home that evening to “stabilize the tree and marked it for follow up.”
Smith said he never saw a crew at his house the night the tree fell and he was home the entire time.
He said he called the city again Tuesday and was told he was on the list. He called again Wednesday morning. Then he emailed City Manager Joe Lopez, expressing his displeasure and sending photos of the damage.
A crew arrived at his home less than an hour later to remove the tree.
Barnes said the city received nearly 450 calls for downed trees and limbs this week
“The crews have been working late into the evenings to respond to them,” she said by email Wednesday. “During these weather events, calls are prioritized based on risks to health and safety for both residents and motorists/traffic. As of this morning there were 31 high priority locations remaining, including Mr. Smith’s home.”
City of Modesto’s approach to trees criticized
Smith, a 65-year-old disabled Navy veteran, said he was born and raised in Modesto. He moved away in 1977 when he joined the the military and lived in Washington, Arizona and other parts of California over the decades but returned to Modesto last year to retire.
“My observation is that the city has done a very poor job of maintaining its trees,” he said. “And these trees are a gift from a previous generation the city is now squandering.”
In July, the Modesto City Council approved a $2.8 million plan to address Modesto’s 105,000 trees, which in recent years have suffered during droughts and from a lack of adequate care because the city has not been able to fully fund its community forestry division.
The city’s goal is to remove nearly 1,000 trees in the first year, take out 2,000 stumps, remove mistletoe from 2,000 trees and plant 2,000 trees over the two years.
Falling trees and tree limbs damaging parked cars, homes, fences and other private property are among the top liability claims filed against the city. From 2012 through 2019, the city paid $448,408 to settle 228 claims filed against it related to trees.
Barnes said if Smith files a claim with the city, an investigation will be done to determine if the city is responsible for the damage.
Smith said he hopes to be reimbursed for his $2,000 insurance deductible.
While the air stilled and the forestry’s division calls for service slowed Wednesday, the wind is expected pick up again Thursday. Wind gusts in Modesto are expected to be in the 15 to 20 mph range, according to the National Weather Service.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 2:56 PM.
