The storm that left a soggy Independence Day for Durham residents is also becoming a wake up call for the City of Durham.

The city's Department of Solid Waste and Public Works reported to city council on Thursday afternoon. The storm is still being cleaned up.

More than $30,000 has been used to help with clean up from tree removal to overtime for city employees.

Donald Long with the city's Department of Solid Waste said the storm gave way to an even bigger problem that the city is more prepared for bigger problems than smaller ones.

"This storm was by no means a big one, but it caught us off guard," Long said.

Councilman Mike Woodard announced he'd like to see the city be better prepared for smaller problems like the storms on July 4.

"I know we are into the hurricane season and I don't want to sound like Chicken Little and the sky is falling," Woodard said. "But I do think we can take this event and learn from it."

The city received over seventy calls over the four day weekend regarding downed trees around the city. Durham is in a unique situation where most of the populations of the trees around the city are old.

The report to the council also told of a park that had to be shut down because of a tree that blew down during the storm and was infested with beetles. Shady Oak Park was closed for majority for clean up on July 5.

City council members all agreed the city needs to look into ways to better respond to smaller scale crisis' for citizens. Mayor Pro Tem, Core Cole-McFadden, advised the city attorney to draft a letter to Duke Energy on ways to help residents who are without power during and after a storm.