Bixby Residents Dealing With Hauling Off Their Own Storm Debris

Last week's storms left a lot of people with damaged trees and fallen limbs.

Not everyone is getting help from their respective city, which leaves them to figure it out on their own.

In Bixby, homeowners are hauling off their own trees.

News On 6 called several cities this week to find out their plans to help residents with tree and limb removal.

Many cities are offering brush drop off and pick up services.

But, we found out, the City of Bixby is not picking up the many piles of tree debris in its neighborhoods.

Bixby leaders said they're suggesting people take debris to an area landfill in north Tulsa.

And citizens are not happy with the city's decision.

"Now our neighborhood has been hit with all these trees and they're just all laying around," Bixby resident Leann Hanseth said.

7/28/13 Related Story: City Of Tulsa Explains Tree Debris Pickup Plan

Hanseth's home and several others suffered lots of tree and limb damage during Tuesday night's storm, which the city will not be helping to remove.

"It's very inconvenient and difficult," Kristi Sturgeon said.

Every city affected by the storm has its own plan for debris removal.

Cities like Bixby and Glenpool said they do not have any plans to do curbside pickup.

Skiatook has opened up a brush dump for people to drop off debris.

It's a different story in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks and Owasso.

All are planning or already started curbside pickup.

Neighbors in Bixby say some volunteers and neighbors are helping them haul off their downed trees.

Mike Anderson was taking advantage of the storm to clean up the trees in his yard.

"I'm not certain of anything," Anderson said. "I'm just getting it off to the road. If I have to haul it off myself so be it."

But Hanseth wishes the city would step up.

"There is disappointment because we've always been a family community and to standby and help each other and now it's just like, 'well sorry," Hanseth said.

A spokesperson for Tulsa County says its crews are focusing on debris removal from the side of county roads and highways.