A quick severe thunderstorm put a hamper on the clean up effort on Wednesday throughout Tyler after Tuesday night's storms pushed through and caused damage to homes and business in the city. Although the storm caused significant property damage in the Azalea District, Mid-Town and the Hospital District, only minor injuries were reported after a tree fell on the driver of a car near the intersection of South Donnybrook Avenue and Troup Highway.

Emergency services responded to about 90 calls. About 60 downed power lines and 14 structures with trees on top of them were reported.

The City Of Tyler reports that the streets department has received about 90 reports of downed trees. About half of them have been cleared from the roadways. The others cannot be removed until Oncor assesses the downed power lines tangled in the trees. crews began working at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday and worked through the night. The department estimates it taking up to two weeks to get all the limbs, trees and other debris cleared from the roadways and rights-of-way.

Residents should avoid unnecessary travel in these areas as crews work to remove downed trees and clear roadways.

The intersections of South Chilton Avenue and West 4th and 5th Street remain closed due to downed trees and power lines. Eastbound traffic will detour to South Robertson Avenue, Sunnybrook Drive, Old Jacksonville Highway and South Broadway Avenue before returning to East Fifth Street. Westbound traffic will detour to South Broadway Avenue, Old Jacksonville Highway, Sunnybrook Drive, and South Vine Avenue before returning to East Fourth Street.  

Southbound traffic on South Donnybrook Avenue will detour to East Ninth Street, South Wall Avenue, Troupe Highway, New Copeland Road, East Seagal Street and back to South Donnybrook Avenue. Northbound traffic will detour to East Seagal Street, New Copeland Road, South Wall Avenue, East Ninth Street and back to South Donnybrook Avenue.

Residents are asked to drive with caution, slow down and avoid areas where trees and power lines are down. Motorists are asked not to remove traffic cones placed across roadways due to safety concerns.

The Solid Waste Department will be doing free brush pickup due to storm damage.

Customers can call (903) 531-1388 through Friday, April 22 to schedule a brush pickup. The department will issue a work order during the phone call. There will not be a specified day for the pickup. Customers can call (903) 531-1388 through Friday, April 22 to schedule a brush pickup. The department will issue a work order during the phone call. There will not be a specified day for the pickup. Customers are asked to be patient with the brush pickup due to trucks, personnel and resources being utilized by other City Departments to clear downed and uprooted trees from streets and right-of-way.