Fallen tree remains on Cleveland family’s home more than a week after storms

CLEVELAND (WJW) – A local neighborhood wants help from their city after they say a fallen tree has remained on a family’s home for more than a week.

Eddy Rivera has lived on Cleveland’s West 135th Street for years but since last week’s storm, he’s lived next door to home with a fallen tree resting uncomfortably on top of it.

“Everybody comes by, they take pictures, they slow down,” he said. “I scratch my head and go, ‘wow, everyone is getting there stuff done except for them.’”

The mother of three kids who lives inside told FOX 8 off-camera that everyone in the house is OK.

She says they have looked to the city for answers on this issue but have been told that there are over 800 complaints the city is responding to. ​

Instead, her neighbor Eddy has supplied the most amount of help in the aftermath.

“I come out here with my machete and chainsaw. She couldn’t park there and now she can,” said Rivera.

A neighborhood hopes that help comes soon because this tree didn’t fall harmlessly in a forest. It fell on a family’s most precious asset, their home.

“I mean, they do pay taxes,” said Rivera.

FOX 8 sent the following statement from Cleveland Public Works:

“The city’s public works teams, along with contractors, have completed hundreds of tree-related service requests since the 4 tornadoes hit the area last Tuesday. While natural disasters are unexpected events that cannot be predicted, the city was prepared and deployed emergency mobilization teams immediately that day, along with specialty crews who have been working around the clock to remove trees off of homes. Those situations present an extra layer of difficulty as specialized equipment is required to ensure homes are not damaged further. This particular residence is slated to be completed tomorrow.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.