Published on March 04, 2025
Residents reminded how to report downed trees and power lines
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, joined by City and utility representatives, today said the City and community partners are ready to respond to a storm that is expected to produce snow and high winds late Tuesday, March 4.
“We take this forecast seriously, as public safety is our top priority,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “Our teams are mobilized and ready to respond to ensure residents stay safe and informed.”
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory effective from 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, to 3 a.m. Wednesday, March 5. Wind gusts up to 70 mph and snow accumulation up to 3 inches are possible. A High Wind Warning is in effect until noon, Wednesday, March 5.
Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird at the news conference were Liz Elliott, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) Director; Maggie Stuckey-Ross, Parks and Recreation Director; Ryan Dale, Lincoln Police Department Assistant Chief; Paul Crist, Lincoln Electric System (LES) Vice President of Energy Delivery.
Director Elliott said that due to predicted rain Tuesday afternoon, LTU will not pretreat streets with brine as it will wash off. Winter Operations crews will monitor weather conditions and begin plowing as snow accumulates – focusing on arterial, school and emergency snow routes. Crews will continue checking street conditions during the storm, Elliott said, and will apply granular salt pre-wet with brine as necessary.
Due to dangerous high winds expected Tuesday evening, all StarTran routes will end at 7 p.m. and resume regular hours on Wednesday, March 5.
Elliott also encouraged community members to delay placing waste and recycling containers by their curbs overnight to help prevent blowing debris. Due to predicted high winds, the Bluff Road Landfill, 6001 Bluff Road, will delay opening until 10 a.m. Crews will resume daily maintenance of recycling sites Thursday morning.
Stuckey-Ross said all recreation and community centers will follow normal hours of operation. The Pioneers Park Nature Center gated trails will have a delayed opening to allow staff to confirm safe access.
Crist said LES crews will be available to respond to customer requests in the event of power outages, although high winds may delay some repair work due to safety issues. He urged those needing electricity for medical equipment to test batteries and make arrangements for potential power loss.
Assistant Chief Dale asked drivers to adjust their speed and following distance during inclement weather and to be patient when calling LPD, as officers will also be experiencing possible slippery and low visibility conditions.
Officials reminded community members that downed trees and power lines may be addressed in the following ways:
To report a downed power line, visit the Lincoln Electric System outage page at les.com/report-outage or call 888-365-2412.
For trees blocking City streets or sidewalks, contact the Lincoln Police Department (LPD) non-emergency number, 402-441-6000. Do not call 911. LPD reports downed trees to the Community Forestry Section.
For public trees between the curb and sidewalk, contact the Parks and Recreation Community Forestry Section at 402-441-7847, ext. 0. Residents should provide a name, address, phone number, and specify whether there is a partial or complete blockage, and if a limb or larger portion of a tree has fallen.
Residents can also report damage to public trees at UPLNK.lincoln.ne.gov or by using the UPLNK app. Residents are also advised to watch for broken limbs that may still be hanging in trees. These can cause injury or damage when they fall.
Tree debris on private property is the responsibility of the property owner. For tree debris on private properties, residents can contact their refuse haulers or take the debris to the North 48th Street Transfer Station, 5101 N. 48th St. Hours are 6:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 6:45 a.m. to noon Sundays. Regular disposal charges and fees apply. To avoid an extra charge, residents must cover and secure their loads. For more information, visit lincoln.ne.gov/Landfill.
LTU reminds residents that Winter Operations crews are best able to respond to service requests after a storm has passed and arterial streets and emergency routes have been serviced. Residents with questions about plowing progress can monitor the snowplow tracker at lincoln.ne.gov/snow.
Community members are encouraged to participate in the City Snow Angel Program that connects volunteers to community members who need help removing snow. Visit lincoln.ne.gov/SnowAngels for more information and to register.