HOUSTON, Texas — On Friday, the City of Houston announced an interactive storm debris pickup map meant to help residents see when they can expect their debris to be picked up.
On Saturday morning, the map ran into hiccups -- it was locked behind a login screen -- and still is. Several folks were frustrated and said they didn't know when their debris would be picked up.
Piles of debris line the streets in the Timbergrove Manor neighborhood. One of the piles you can spot when driving through the neighborhood is outside of Chuck Booth's home.
“Most of the stuff the guys put up front and the city did take it,” Booth said. “But then, all of the main stuff as you can see, they haven’t come.”
A large tree in Booth's backyard was knocked down by the derecho that hit the Houston area nearly three weeks ago. Last week, he got the debris moved out front to be picked up, but it’s still there and now he’s worried.
“I’m gonna have to figure out how to get rid of it on my own and I only have a Toyota,” Booth said. “It’s not going to fit in the trunk.”
Booth said he called the city Monday morning and was told to log onto the city’s storm debris tracker that hasn’t been working all weekend. He left a request for help over the phone.
“I haven’t gotten an email from the city, so I don’t know If the request I put in this morning is working,” Booth said.
Booth's neighbor is in the same situation.
“You can’t even walk through the sidewalks,” Conrad Fertitta said.
Fertitta’s patience is running thin. The pile of debris on his sidewalk has been there since May 17.
“They’ve only picked up a small portion here and they quit,” Fertitta said. “So, I don’t know what the story is behind the city’s thinking.”
Fertitta said he’s called the city seven times.
“I don’t know where these big trucks are going when they’re going down this street and they come back, they’re full,” Fertitta said. “But then I drive around the neighborhood, look to see what’s been picked up, doesn’t look much different.”
The neighbors hope something is done soon.
“I feel like it’s a lost cause,” Fertitta said.
KHOU 11 News reached out to the city to speak on camera about the debris tracker but was declined. The city said it's working to verify debris data and will have an update on the tracker later this week. The debris removal efforts are expected to last two to three months.