GALVESTON, Texas -- Crews are removing thousands of dead trees in Galveston, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

About 11,000 trees are being removed. They were damaged during Hurricane Ike, either by wind or saltwater from the storm surge.

"I'm confident the trees we have chosen are not trees of the future, but trees of the past," said Pete Smith of the Texas Forest Service.

Galveston is facing a Sept. 12 Federal Emergency Management Agency funding deadline. Crews have to get the trees removed before the money runs out.

Some residents said they're sad to see the trees go.

"Our tree is on the public right of way, so I don't have a choice," Celia Padnos said. "It would be nice to have a choice, but I understand the deadline."

"It will take 100 years to get shade like this again," Leslie LeGrand said.

Some said removing the trees now is for the best.

"It's sad, but the trees are dead," one resident said. "It's better they come down in a controlled fashion than in the next storm."

The city said many of the trees will end up in a landfill, but it is exploring the possibility of using some of the wood in a public art display. Some of the wood will also be used to restore historic whaling ships.

It's estimated it will take weeks to cut down the trees and years to replant what was lost.