The derecho that swept through the county on June 29 has left many Edgewater and Davidsonville yards full of storm debris.

But the good news is if you or other residents are in need of a safe way to dispose of tree limbs, community and homeowners associations can request a Dumpster from Anne Arundel County.

Edgewater State Farm insurance agent Marc Carella said the derecho storm caused an unprecedented amount of damage—specifically when it comes to debris.

"I think the debris situation has been probably one of the worst I've seen since [Hurricane] Isabel, and probably in the last 12 years for such a one-time event," Carella said. "There's a lot of debris out there and people are kind of on their own and spending their own money out of pocket." 

The local insurance expert said most insurance companies only cover debris removal costs when trees cause damage to personal property. For many in Edgewater and Davidsonville, Carella said the debris is strewn about, but didn't cause damage—leaving residents in a pinch. For some, the cost of removing debris can reach into the thousands.

"The majority of what I'm seeing, insurance is not covering because it's just debris," Carella said. "People accept it and understand, but nobody was expecting to pay several thousands of dollars [to remove debris]."

The county's storm debris removal assistance may be requested through the Office of Community and Constituent Services, according to a press release. To make the request, a representative of the association should call 410-222-1795 or email ccservices@aacounty.org.

Yard waste, including storm debris, placed at the curb for recycling must be bagged or put in a container and marked with an "X." If not in a container, branches must be tied into bundles (not to exceed 4 feet by 4 inches in diameter). Logs and large limbs that cannot be collected at curbside can be taken to any of the three county convenience centers.

If you have a community or homeowners association, please allow the representative of that organization to make the Dumpster request.

Visit aacounty.org/DPW/Highways/StormDebris.cfm for complete information regarding these services.