Declaration opens the door to state support; Several places are opened to leave the remains of trees
In our Highlands Ranch community: You are not alone. As you clean up after Thursday’s storm, you probably have questions. Please read on for what we know now.
“We are counting our blessings that there were no injuries or deaths from Thursday’s storm. However, there was significant damage and debris,” said Commissioner Lora Thomas. “We are working in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, the Metropolitan Borough of Highlands Ranch and the Highlands Ranch Community Partnership to assist all those affected.”
“The County has issued one disaster declaration to open the door to state support,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon. “In the meantime, we are working with the Highlands Ranch community to provide tree debris drop-off sites.”
Cleaning of tree remains
Douglas County crews are working to clear tree debris that is causing sidewalk and roadway safety hazards, starting with the most affected area, which is between Highlands Ranch Parkway and C-470 and from Broadway in Colorado.
Crews are also assessing every street in Highlands Ranch to map the damage, which will help inform crews’ efforts. If you need to report a damaged road sign, you can do so do it online.
For those with tree debris on their private property, two drop-off locations are available in Highlands Ranch, with more planned as needed. You can leave anything that can be turned into mulch, such as tree branches or shrubs. Please do not bring fences or root balls. This service is for Douglas County homeowners, not contractors. Anything larger than a typical trash load should go to these places:
Highland Heritage Park, 9651 S. Quebec Redstone Park, 3280 Redstone Park Circle
“We want our community to know that our crews are going street by street to assess the damage and prioritize recovery efforts,” said Commissioner George Teal. “We know that cleanup after this storm will be a shared responsibility between public entities and our individual property owners.”
“Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the tornado that hit Highlands Ranch yesterday, but our community suffered quite a bit of damage,” said Highlands Ranch Metro District General Manager Stephanie Stanley. “Our staff and partners are assessing the damage and our crews are coordinating repairs in our parks, along trails and on major roads. If people see a problem on public property, please report- lo through the link Report a concern a www.highlandsranch.org. Updated resources and information are available at highlandsranch.org/stormdamage.”
“HRCA residents are our priority every day, especially during a crisis like this. We are working with Douglas County and the Metro District in partnership to provide residents with resources for debris removal and covenant concerns We are working to maintain our website, HRCAonline.orgupdated as the best resource for the latest information,” said Mike Bailey, CEO of the Highlands Ranch Community Association.
For current information and resources, visit HighlandsRanch.org/StormDamage. Additional updates will be provided as they become known.
For information and advice on post-storm cleanup of private property, read this information from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
Contact your homeowners insurance for damage to your property. Please only call the Sheriff’s Office if you have an emergency.
“Our deputies and emergency personnel responded to this disaster with compassion and professionalism,” said Douglas County Undersheriff Dave Walcher. “They worked through the night to direct traffic, provide information and clear the roads. The recovery phase has begun and we are working closely with the county and other agencies to provide support and resources.”
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