WASHINGTON — Several downed trees toppled toilets and flipped fences set up for Fourth of July festivities in D.C. this holiday weekend after two powerful storms raked the area Thursday evening. But the good news, according to the National Park Service, is that the nation's annual fireworks show will go off and crowds will be welcomed to the National Mall as planned.
NPS crews were out Friday morning near 17th Street in Northwest D.C., in front of the WWII Memorial and near the Korean War Memorial to clean up the debris left behind from Thursday evening's heavy winds and rain.
According to Mike Litterst, chief of communications for the National Mall and Memorial Parks, a lot of fencing is down, trees were spotted on top of the fencing and some portable toilets and tents were knocked down.
Park authorities did not have a full accounting of the number of trees damaged as of Friday afternoon, however, Litterst said at least 30% of the 425 Porta Potties in the area were toppled by strong winds and had to be reset.
Litterst said NPS crews plan to work through the weekend to clean up the mess before festivities on Sunday.
"I don't have any concerns that we won't be won't be ready for this," Litterest said. "We are confident that we have the resources and the time left to make sure that this is an enjoyable, and safe event."
Notably, none of the pre-set fireworks were damaged by the wind or torrential rain, according to park authorities.
"The way they designed it and the way they build it looks like it held up," Litterest said, promising that the planned 17-minute fireworks display would go off on time shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.
According to decisions made earlier in the year, the annual Independence Day Parade had already been canceled for 2021. The concert normally held on the Capitol steps was converted to a virtual event that will be broadcast on PBS stations. There will be no live performances this year.
National Park Service officials are asking visitors to stay away from any downed trees or other storm debris they may encounter while visiting the Mall.
Over 20,000 people in the Washington Metro region were left without power Friday morning. Power was slowly being restored by the afternoon for impacted customers in the region. According to the National Weather Service, the region had over 100 storm damage reports.
