NW DC residents call for action in storm aftermath

WASHINGTON — Crews endured another hot day while cleaning up after a night of strong winds and heavy rains across the DMV Monday night.

For Phil Kerpen, who lives in a neighborhood near the junction of 33rd and Tennyson Street Northwest, trees falling on his home after a storm has become almost routine. 

“This is the third city tree that’s hit this house in the last eleven years,” he reported. “I think it’s the last one in range, so maybe we’re in the clear now for another hundred years or so.”

Next door, Ashi Tandon says Kerpen isn’t alone, and has seen this story play out for many of his neighbors since living in the area. 

“We’ve been in this house for 38 years,” he said. “I’ve seen 14 trees this size fall on this block.”

As the DMV continues to endure high temperatures, tree service contractors say the extreme weather can’t be ignored.   

“The ground starts to get moist, the humidity starts to build up, all the roots start to loosen, so that’s when you’re going to see a lot of these trees falling,” explained Anthony Cauterucci of Reliable Contractors. “You’re getting these larger storms, you’re getting these more intense heatwaves that intensify the storm coming in. Besides that though, when it comes down to it, an old tree is always going to get blown down by a new wind.”

Yet after multiple hits to his home, Kerpen is hoping the City will enact a more permanent solution.

“The four-foot tree box is just not adequate for trees that’re 150-200-feet high,” Kerpen says. “As nice as they are, they’re all going to go down soon if they haven’t already, so I think they should all be replanted, we shouldn’t wait until they fall and hit someone’s house.”

WUSA9 reached out to the city for a comment, we're still waiting for a reply.