​HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD
"Where Forest Park Is Your Backyard"
Clayton and St. Louis, MO
2025 Tornado Information
Links
May 22: Urgent Request from Cpl. Jenny Schwartz
Our officers on the debris cleanup details have reported contractors and residents are creating unsafe conditions by moving cones, barriers and caution tape to access our work areas. Not only does this delay our progress, it causes hazards for everyone in the area. Please reiterate that traffic is restricted to essential travel only and non-emergency contract services should be rescheduled.
We appreciate your assistance in sharing this information. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Can I put branches on someone else’s property so they will have to remove them?
We hope this one is obvious. Overall, the answer is no. We have received a few reports of people moving material to other people’s driveway or street lawn. If you are thinking of doing this, please have a conversation and get the person’s approval (for example, if you think the material belongs to them or if a contractor has told you to do it). This storm has created a lot of gray areas and we hope that disagreements can be handled respectfully and diplomatically.
May 22 Update: Street Cleanup Continues
Good afternoon everyone. Thank you all for your cooperation with our intensive debris removal process. While we still have a snag with Ameren in the area of DeMun, we’ve managed to make a lot of progress today. Beginning this evening, residents on the east end of the Hillcrest neighborhood will be able to access Aberdeen and Arundel from Skinker. However, they will not be able to cross over DeMun. In the Moorlands area, residents along Glenridge between Wydown and Buckingham will not be able to park on the street. We’re moving on to the 7400 block and will need access to Glenridge.
I’ve attached the updated work areas for Friday. For your reference, they are:
Davis Place:
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S. Central from the 400 block through Clayton Rd.
Moorlands Neighborhood:
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Glenridge from Wydown to Buckingham
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Audubon from Wydown to Buckingham
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7400 block of Byron
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7400 block of Parkdale
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7400 block of Buckingham
Hillcrest:
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University from Wydown to Arundel
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Dartford from Wydown to Arundel
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Aberdeen between Dartford and University
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Arundel between Dartford and University
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Stay safe,
Jenny
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Cpl. Jenny Schwartz
Community Services & Public Information Officer
City of Clayton – Police Department
10 S. Brentwood Blvd. | Clayton, MO 63105
P: (314)290-8424 | C: (314)486-6010
May 20 Update: Street Cleanup on May 21
Good morning,
Below you will find important information about our planned debris removal. I’ve also attached a map of the areas that will be impacted during this first phase. This information will be shared through our storm update website and on social media. Additionally, volunteers will begin knocking on doors today to inform your residents of the upcoming work. Please help us share this information with your neighbors. Your assistance has been an integral part of our recovery process and is greatly appreciated!
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly with any questions.
Stay safe,
Jenny
Street Cleanup: Wednesday, May 21 – Remove all Vehicles From Street
Starting Wednesday, May 21, cleanup crews will begin moving through impacted neighborhoods to do intensive debris recovery. We will be removing all tree debris from sidewalk-to-sidewalk (or curb-to-curb) in public and private neighborhoods. This includes any debris on the street, sidewalks, or on the tree lawns. Debris that is down on private lawns and common ground will not be collected.
For this effort, crews require full street access. Residents in the work area will be notified 12-24 hours before work starts to allow time for those who park on the street to find alternative locations. Vehicles left on the street after 7 am on the date work is scheduled will be towed at the owner’s expense to allow crews to work.
Please plan for the cleanup effort in each working area to take up to 48 hours.
Assigned working areas, alternative parking for residents, updated information, and cleanup plan details will be distributed on social media, Nextdoor, and on www.claytonmo.gov/May2025Storm
Debris Cleanup Assignments for Wednesday, May 21:
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Demun (south of Wydown to Arundel)
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Aberdeen from Demun to the City Limit
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Arundel from Demun to the City Limit
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South Brentwood from Walinca to I-170
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Rosiline
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Orlando
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Venetian
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South Meramec from Walinca to Davis
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Davis from South Brentwood to South Meramec
Cpl. Jenny Schwartz
Community Services & Public Information Officer
City of Clayton – Police Department
10 S. Brentwood Blvd. | Clayton, MO 63105
P: (314)290-8424 | C: (314)486-6010
May 20: Hillcrest Tornado FAQ
Prepared by the Trustees of Hillcrest on May 17, 2025 and updated on May 20
What will the City of Clayton do?
Clayton will address problems with street features in the Clayton area of Hillcrest. This will include removing damaged trees, trimming trees that can be salvaged, and removing debris from the sidewalks, curbs and street surface. Debris removal will begin Wednesday 5/21 and will occur on a block-by-block basis with notification made so that neighbors can move cars (streets must be clear). Clayton will eventually restore sidewalks and street signs. Clayton has provided several dumpsters for private individuals to use for plant parts; see https://www.claytonmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5627/17. These are in the 100 block of Aberdeen and Arundel. For more information about Clayton services, we recommend contacting City Hall or alderwoman Becky Patel, who lives in Hillcrest (bpatel@claytonmo.gov).
What will the City of St. Louis do?
St. Louis City forestry will address problems with street trees on Skinker. We plan to ask the City for any additional assistance they can render to remove debris from the alleys and street, but the City portion of Hillcrest is privately owned and is not City responsibility.
What will the Trustees of Hillcrest do?
The Trustees have engaged Davey Tree (our regular tree service company) to address problems with the approximately 75 street trees in the private Hillcrest-owned and maintained street areas (1–20 Aberdeen and Arundel), including removal of debris originating from street trees on the sidewalks, curbs and street surface. The Trustees will also continue to provide information and liaise with our public officials.
Can Davey Tree also clean up my yard?
You are welcome to approach Davey to contract for service. They are accustomed to working in Hillcrest and are responsive and professional. This would be a separate contract and not funded by the Trustees.
A street tree fell toward my property and is just sitting there; what do I do?
In the city, trees meeting this description will be removed by the Trustees’ tree service. In Clayton, we have learned that generally, street trees falling onto private property are for the property owner to remove. We do not have more detailed information about how this will be handled but it may be possible for Clayton public works to provide a determination for individual cases.
A street tree fell onto my property and damaged my house; what do I do?
Depending on the extent of the damage, the Clayton or Trustee arborists may not be able to remove the tree for reasons of safety, liability, or the complexity of the job. We recommend consulting with your homeowners’ insurance in this situation.
Can I work on a street tree myself?
For liability and safety reasons, we would ask that you not personally work on these trees but let the Clayton and Trustee arborists address them. We do not have a timeline for their work, but they are aware of the urgency of the situation.
Can I put branches in the alleys?
We do not recommend this. We don’t have information about any plans to collect branches from the alleys and stacking them there it could slow the access for workers and delay restoration of electrical power. Normally, plant matter in the city is collected via the green dumpsters, while in Clayton it is collected in yard waste bags, neither of which are equipped for the amount of material we have now. Stacking material outside these containers could also be considered dumping. We are recommending that you engage a landscaper or waste removal service to haul away plant matter from your property. This will get Hillcrest looking better much more rapidly.
Can I put branches from my yard at the curb to be collected?
In the City, we do not currently recommend this. Similar to the situation in the alleys, we don’t have information about formal plans to collect material from the curb. Moving material from your yard to the curb could be considered dumping. Our contracts only cover removal of material from street trees, not material from individual yards. Instead we recommend engaging a landscape company to remove the material. There are currently many landscapers coming through Hillcrest and one may be willing to add on a removal job for a modest fee. Clayton has indicated that starting Wednesday, May 21, cleanup crews will begin moving through impacted neighborhoods to do intensive debris recovery. They will be removing all tree debris from sidewalk-to-sidewalk (or curb-to-curb) in public and private neighborhoods. This includes any debris on the street, sidewalks, or on the tree lawns. Debris that is down on private lawns and common ground will not be collected.
My tree (growing in my yard) fell into the street; who will clean it up?
In this scenario, it is your responsibility to arrange for the tree to be removed.
My neighbor’s tree fell on my house; who is responsible?
We recommend contacting your homeowners’ insurance carrier to clarify the situation.
Who will clean up my yard?
Damage to plants and structures on each homeowner’s property will unfortunately be their responsibility to clean up. We recommend contracting with a landscaping firm or contacting your homeowner’s insurance depending on the extent of the need.
Why can’t [Clayton, Trustees, someone else] clean up my yard?
Unfortunately we don’t have the resources for this. We also don’t carry homeowner’s insurance for individual homes.
When will the power be back on?
We do not have a timeline. We have been in contact with Ameren and they are aware of the extent of the outages and they also do not have a timeline. The situation is very complex with poles down and in many cases inaccessible. Each pole takes 4 to 8 hours to replace. Many wires are down and several areas of our alleys are impassable.
I’ve identified a dangerous situation; what do I do?
If the danger is imminent, please call 911. For electrical issues, please contact Ameren Missouri; for gas issues, Spire; for water, Missouri American Water. For street or sidewalk issues, please contact Public Works in Clayton, or one of the Trustees in the City. St. Louis Citizens Service Bureau is also a highly responsive resource in the City. The tree services are aware that there are overhanging tree limbs and have told us they will prioritize removing them.
Is trash currently being picked up?
For Clayton, Republic Services is providing updates on the Clayton webpage, claytonmo.gov. Residents can expect communication directly from Republic, as well. The City of St. Louis tells us that services are still being provided normally except when they are impossible (e.g., due to a blocked alley). Refuse can be brought to the City transfer stations with proof of residency and refuse fee payment (i.e., your trash bill).
Can someone take pictures of my house?
Please contact Trustee Ian Hagemann at ian.hagemann@gmail.com or see if a neighbor can help. We also have a neighbor who has offered to take aerial footage with a drone to assess roof damage (contact Ian to get connected).
Is it safe in Hillcrest?
With power outages reducing street lighting, and many people staying in hotels, we anticipate there may be an uptick in crimes of opportunity, especially at night. Clayton police have increased their patrols but we recommend keeping all doors locked and exercising increased caution.
May 19: Hillcrest Trustee Update
We do not have an update on electric service, other than that Wright Tree Service has been clearing trees to allow Ameren to eventually get access.
Clayton residents should expect to get an update from Republic Services today about plans for garbage removal. We do not know the content of the update. STL City tells us they are still providing all services that are physically possible to provide. Those whose garbage is collected in roll carts from the front can expect it to be collected normally. Some of our alleys are impassable, and refuse will not be able to be collected there until they are cleared. The Citizens Service Bureau cheerfully reminded me trash can always be brought to the city dump which is way downtown. Bring your refuse bill to prove you are a resident and paying the refuse fee.
We have gotten clarification that in Clayton, if a street tree falls towards someone’s house and lands in their front, back, or side yard it is actually their responsibility to have it removed. We do not have further information about how this will be handled but it may be possible for Clayton public works to provide a determination for individual cases.
We have also heard of a few instances of neighbors putting material on other neighbors’ property. If you are thinking of doing this, please have a conversation and get the person’s approval (for example, if you think the material belongs to them or if a contractor has told you to do it).