ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - When Hurricane Sandy sent a tree crashing in the neighborhood near West Chestnut and 26th street, power lines came crashing down leaving much of the area without power and cluttered with debris.
Many in the area didn't wait for utility workers or professional crews to try and clean up the neighborhood.
"The property owners down the street came in with chainsaws, bobcats and backhoes," said resident Robert Reyes. "They did an excellent job."
Many in the neighborhood credit landlord Tom Havlin with organizing cleanup efforts.
Havlin says he's just thankful many in the area came out to help to help with the cleanup.
"They just voluntarily came here and helped," he said. "I appreciate it, people from a block and a half away came down here in the rain and the cold."
Although there is some risk that comes with not leaving the cleanup effort to professionals and utility workers.
One of the area residents was struck by a chainsaw when a chain flew off and hit the individual in the head.
Neighbors say he's on the mend now.
Now that the utility workers are in the process of cleaning up the power lines and installing new poles, neighbors in the area reflect on their own cleanup efforts and neighborhood pride.
"It's a great neighborhood," said Reyes. "Not a bad neighborhood at all."
