On Wednesday, May 29, Mayor Bob Dubey declared a local state of disaster for Richardson. This follows extensive damage from a severe storm that swept through North Texas on Tuesday, May 28. This declaration aims to streamline the community's recovery efforts, particularly addressing the significant debris left by the storm.
According to the press release, the city of Richardson has launched a comprehensive debris removal initiative divided into three phases:
Phase I: Immediate Response (Up to 72 Hours) involves prioritizing the clearance of blocked roads to ensure accessibility. City crews are working to remove debris obstructing streets, hospitals and critical facilities, relocating downed trees and vegetation to the curb for later collection. Residents can report blocked streets and alleys by calling 972.744.4111 or emailing [email protected]. Over 300 calls have been received, and crews are addressing these as quickly as possible.
Phase II: Curb-to-Curb Cleanup (Throughout the Weekend) will commence once initial road clearance is achieved. Crews will start removing curbside debris. Residents are advised to place storm-generated debris between the street and sidewalk, separating it into vegetative debris (such as limbs and shrubbery) and construction and demolition debris. Bagged debris will not be collected and debris should not be placed near utility boxes or hydrants. Brush and bulky item collection (BABIC) services for storm debris are suspended temporarily and will resume later.
Phase III: Neighborhood Debris Removal (Starting June 3) will begin with city-contracted crews collecting storm-related debris from the public right-of-way, excluding alleys. No commercial debris or hazardous waste will be collected. The cleanup process is expected to take 4-6 weeks, with schedules available on the city’s website and social media.
A second press release, posted on May 30, outlines the plan for debris removal in Richardson following a recent storm. The city selected Rostan Solutions to oversee the process, and GrowderGulf will handle the physical removal.
As of 5 p.m. on May 29, about 26% of Richardson’s residents remain without power, a reduction from nearly 50% at the storm's peak. Residents without power are encouraged to utilize cooling and charging stations at the Richardson Police Department, Richardson Public Library, Heights Recreation Center, Huffhines Recreation Center and Richardson Senior Center. Generators should be used only in open-air environments, not indoors or in garages.
The city, in partnership with the Network of Community Ministries, has opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 1500 International Parkway, Suite 300. The DRC provides essential services, including food, clothing and assistance with financial or volunteer aid for debris clearance. Click here for the schedule.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is at the DRC to help residents file damage claims and offers online resources to avoid scams and fraud. For more information, visit the TDI website.
Residents are encouraged to report storm damage to assist emergency managers in assessing the scale of destruction. Damage can be reported using the Texas Department of Emergency Management's Storm Damage Form.
For ongoing updates and additional information, residents can visit www.cor.net/SevereWeather.
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