Who cleans branches, fallen debris in Bellingham? How the city is handling storm aftermath

The windstorm that hit Washington on the night of Nov. 19 brought down trees and power lines in several parts of the state. While Whatcom County didn’t see the worst of the damage, some parts of Whatcom county were hit hard by the storm.

Here’s how the cleanup and repair process works in Bellingham after a big storm.

Parks, public works handle storm cleanup in Bellingham

Storm cleanup in Bellingham primarily falls on the city’s Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments.

“In Bellingham, the cleanup of storm damage, such as fallen trees and debris blocking roads, is a collaborative effort involving both Public Works and Parks,” public works spokesperson Riley Grant said in an email to the Bellingham Herald. “Together, these teams focus on addressing issues on public property and right-of-way obstructions to ensure public safety.”

According to Grant, while the two departments each have their own jurisdictions, they’ll often work together.

“Generally, Public Works responds to obstructions in the right-of-way and Parks responds to obstructions on park lands, but the departments work together whenever shared resources are needed, such as arborists’ assessments, equipment, etc.,” Grant said.

If there are multiple areas with fallen branches or trees, the city will prioritize “safety concerns and access, especially on routes critical for emergency services,” noted Grant.

What about storm damage on private property?

While the city’s work focuses on public property, there are still instances in which the city will help with debris on private property, too.

“Property owners are generally responsible for debris and fallen trees on their property. The city will help if there is an imminent public safety risk, such as a tree over a roadway, however the property owner is still responsible for the remaining debris,” Grant said.

The city will also pick up debris on private property if it originated from a tree on city land.

“The Parks Department Urban Forestry Crew does respond to requests to clean up trees and tree debris that has fallen on private residences if the tree originated from city property,” Grant said. “We always ask for permission from the owner before doing the work.”

How to report storm damage

The city maintains an online portal where you can report anything that needs fixing. You can access the form on the city’s website at cob.org/fix. For damage that needs to be addressed more urgently, you can call (360) 778-7700.