A north St. Louis family is facing a homeowner’s crisis after a large street tree fell onto their house, following a water main break that left their block flooded. Homeowner Carlos T. Brown reported that a water main broke on Jan. 24, saturating the ground and leaving standing water for days before the tree collapsed while he and his wife were inside. Photos shared by Brown with local media show significant damage to the roof and front of the house.
Brown told FOX 2 that he contacted the St. Louis Water Department on Jan. 24, and crews responded by roping off the affected section of the street. He said water continued to pool around the tree for three days, leading him to reach out to the city’s Forestry Division over concerns that the saturated soil could loosen the tree’s roots. Brown reported that the water department returned a few days later to repair the break, and the tree fell following that work.
Winter Breaks Have Stretched Crews
The Jan. 24 incident occurred amid a series of cold-weather water main failures that have already strained city repair crews. The St. Louis Water Division has reported dozens of breaks and leaks in recent weeks.
According to First Alert 4, city officials say aging infrastructure and frozen valves have made repairs more difficult, contributing to over 30 water main breaks and about 100 leaks during the recent cold snap.
How To Report A Dangerous Tree
The City of St. Louis Forestry Division oversees street and park trees and asks residents to report fallen limbs or hazardous trees through the Citizens' Service Bureau or the city’s online form. The city’s reporting page lists the Citizens' Service Bureau at 314-622-4800 and the Forestry Division direct line at (314) 613-7200, and notes the Forestry Division office at 1415 N. 13th St. The city advises residents to take photos of any damage and include their exact address when submitting a request for assistance.
Officials Have Been Contacted
FOX 2 reports that it contacted the St. Louis Water Department and Missouri American Water for comment, and a water department spokesperson may be available on Monday. As of the report, no official statement directly connecting the tree collapse to the water main break had been released.
