After rains, it’s trees vs. cars in Forest Hills and N. Cleveland Park

by Marlene Berlin

Talk about your close calls.

Mary Lou Jacobsen with damaged car

This morning I found Mary Lou Jacobsen surveying her damaged car – one of three hit by a large tree Tuesday night. They were parked on the 3100 block of Albemarle Street.

Car damage on Albemarle Street

Although Jacobsen’s insurance company informed her she is not covered for this type of damage, she told me she counts herself lucky because she could have been in the car.

She parked it around 10 p.m. last night, and about 15 minutes later she heard the crash from her apartment in The Avalon.

The fallen tree was set back from the street, on the grounds of the former Polish ambassador’s residence at 3101 Albemarle Street, NW.

The falling tree broke the fence and damaged three cars parked on Albemarle Street.

The damage appears light compared to what happened to this car a few days ago on the 3600 block of Yuma Street. Uzay Turker, the owner of Acacia Bistro, sent this photo.

Popville reports a homeowner on the block had been concerned about the tree’s health, but even seemingly healthy trees can topple under the right conditions.

Those conditions lately include the near-daily rains that have given the ground a good soaking over the past few weeks – and windy conditions.

Vera Ertem, a DDOT Urban Forestry arborist, reports additional trees down on Linnean Terrace, Broad Branch Road and the alley behind the 2700 block of Chesapeake Street NW, all occurring between May 8 and 14.