Upper Arlington residents have until Monday morning, Aug. 17, to drag storm-damaged branches to the curb or miss the city's only scheduled pickup.

City crews will make a single pass through the community starting that day to chip or remove tree limbs downed by the Aug. 11 storm, according to the city's storm response update posted Aug. 12.

There will be no second pass.

Branches should be placed as close to the street as possible without blocking the sidewalk or sitting in the roadway. General yard waste, including lawn clippings, weeds and landscaping trimmings, will not be collected. The Ohio Mulch facility on Roberts Road is off-limits to residents until further notice; it is accepting debris only from public cleanup crews.

Any debris left after the chipping pass should be cut to 4 to 5 feet, bundled with twine or rope and kept under 50 pounds per bundle. Smaller branches, twigs and leaves go in biodegradable yard waste bags or marked containers, also under 50 pounds, set out on regular trash day.

Scammer warnings

The city is also warning residents about storm scammers operating in three categories: fraudulent contractors, utility impersonators and insurance claim schemes.

Key guidance from the city's alert:

• Do not hire someone who shows up unannounced after a storm. Verify contractor licenses through the Ohio Department of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau, get multiple written estimates and never pay the full amount upfront.
• Ask for ID before letting anyone claiming to represent a utility company onto your property. Real utility companies do not collect payment for emergency repairs at your door.
• Do not give out insurance policy numbers or coverage details to anyone who contacts you first. Call your agent directly using the number on your policy documents.

Generator safety

For residents still without power, the city reminded homeowners to run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust pointed away from windows and doors. Carbon monoxide alarms should be confirmed working, and generators should be switched off and cooled before refueling.

Charging stations and cooling centers

Several facilities remain open for device charging and air conditioning:

• Bob Crane Community Center: weekdays, 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m. A police officer is available on Level 1 for walk-in damage reports.
• Upper Arlington Public Library (all three branches): 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday.
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Dorset Road: daytime and overnight.
• Northwest United Methodist Church, 5200 Riverside Drive: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–noon Friday, with shower facilities.
• Municipal Services Center: reopens Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

As we reported Wednesday, residents can report storm damage not yet on the city's interactive map by calling the police non-emergency line at 614-459-2800.

Andrés Antequera, the city's communications manager, said on X on Aug. 12 that National Weather Service crews were surveying damage that afternoon to help determine what caused the widespread destruction. No classification has been released.