Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Windstorm Downs Trees; Power Outages in Windsor Village, Brookside, Longwood Highlands and Fremont Place

This large pine tree fell in Hancock Park during last night’s windstorm, which also knocked out power in several neighborhoods. (photo by Cindy Chvatal-Keane)

Last night’s fierce winds wrecked havoc with our local trees and caused power outages in Windsor Village, Brookside, Longwood Highlands and Fremont Place.  The power went out around 9 p.m. and returned for many residents in the affected areas around 4 a.m., though there were still some neighbors who reported no power.

According to LADWP as of  10:45 a.m. today, the number of customers without power is down to 29,000 out of 1.5 million customers served by LADWP. Since the start of high winds, crews have restored power to more than 20,000 customers. The utility estimated the number of customers affected by wind-related outages peaked at 49,000 overnight. The National Weather Service reported winds over 50 mph in the Mid-Wilshire area.

Thankfully, the winds have subsided, making for better working conditions for LADWP crews out in the field. But the utility continues to receive new reports of downed power lines and other wind-related outages that occurred overnight and went unnoticed or unreported until this morning. Winds are expected to diminish throughout the week, but it will still be breezy.

“Due to the high number of outages requiring repairs, customers should plan to be without power for up to 24 hours, from the start of their outage. While some outages will take less time to restore, others could take longer due to the complexity of repairs. Our crews will work around the clock until every customer has their power back on.  Most affected neighborhoods are in the “Metro” portions of LA, located south of the Hollywood Hills. Currently, communities most affected by the outages include portions of South LA, Mar Vista, Mid-Wilshire, East-Hollywood, Hyde Park, Green Meadows and Koreatown,” according to a press statement on the LADWP website.

Customers experiencing an outage should report it online at www.ladwp.com/outages from a desktop computer or mobile device.  They can also call 1800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).  LADWP warns that if you see downed wires, assume they are live, stay clear and call 911 immediately.

Downed Trees

70-foot Pine tree in Larchmont Village was downed by the winds last night narrowly missing the home and a parked car. (photo by Eileen Lanza)

We regret to report that a number of our already beleaguered street trees were damaged in heavy winds. Mother Nature was out in full force last night and unfortunately several spectacular specimens were toppled last night. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and photos with us.

A very large, 70-foot pine tree fell on Irving Blvd. just after 9 p.m. last night. Fortunately, the massive tree missed the house and their car parked nearby.

“It was a loud thundering sound that lasted for several seconds,” Larchmont Village resident  Elizabeth Leonard told the Buzz. “It was a fairly dramatic noise that rose above the sounds of the wind gusts.”

Another photo of the pine that feel on Irving Street in Larchmont Village. (photo from Elizabeth Leonard)

Another Pine tree fell in Hancock Park, also fortunately falling away from the home so no one was injured.  Workers were on the scene this morning cutting up the tree, chipping it, turning the damaged tree into chips that get recycled by the city for use in mulch give-away programs and civic plantings. If you have a downed tree or limb, please report it to 311. The city will respond fairly quickly to remove any trees that are blocking the right of way or present and immediate danger (though it usually takeslonger to remove the remaining stump or part of the tree that is not considered imminently dangerous).

According to Paul Gomez, spokesman for the Department of Public Works, the storm generated 350 service requests, which is considered a medium-sized event.

“This is not an overwhelming event,” said Gomez. “On a typical day, the Bureau of Street Services gets between 30-40 requests. We will do our best to get to each request within 24 hours.”

Workers were already out this morning cutting down this fallen pine tree in Hancock Park at 533 South Muirfield Road in Hancock Park (photo by Cindy Chvatal-Keane)

 

 

 

 

Fortunately, many trees were spared, though there’s lots of other debris for the city to pick up and mulch. Nearby, Windsor Village’s Harold Henry Park is full of debris…but thankfully, no trees came down.

“We had same outage hours but no major damage thankfully,” reported Buzz founder Julie Grist. “A few tree limbs down. But even the park, where we often lose a eucalyptus in big winds, seemed to survive intact. It certainly was a big blower.”

In Sycamore Square, Conrad Starr told us about a lovely Bottle Brush tree that was damaged in the storm.
“We lost half of a bottle brush tree at the northwest corner of 8th and Mansfield, one of a pair of trees that have been there since I moved to the block in the mid-nineties,” said Starr. “Perhaps it was the same gust that unseated the globe from the streetlight!”
Fortunately, we only heard reports of property damage from the wind like this one, from Paul Nankivell, in wind blew down the fence in between his home and his neighbors’ home.
The winds are expected to stay calm, bringing us a nice, warm breezy day with clear blue skies.
Hopefully this Bottle Brush tree can survive the loss of this limb. (Photo by Conrad Starr)
A large branch from this Bottle Brush tree was damaged in the wind, as well as this light post in Sycamore Square. (photo by Conrad Starr)
A huge branch of this Magnolia tree fell, damaging a parked car in Windsor Square. (photo from Megan Derry)
Fallen Palm fronds gathered up in La Brea Hancock (photo from Tammy Rosato)
There were lots of damaged trees like this one on Rossmore Blvd. (photo by Julie Stromberg)

This story was update to correct the time the Pine tree fell on Irving Blvd. 

 

 

 

 

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Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard is the publisher of the Larchmont Buzz. Patty lives with her family in Fremont Place. She has been active in neighborhood issues since moving here in 1989. Her pictorial history, "Larchmont" for Arcadia Press is available at Chevalier's Books.

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