Urban Forest Strike Team Team Leader Response Protocols Review Eric Kuehler, USDA Forest Service New Kent, VA July 14-15, 2008 The purpose of this presentation is to review the current urban forest emergency response protocols used by the UFST.

UFST Current Response Protocols Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Pre-storm debris potential assessment Post-storm debris estimation assessment Risk Assessment Protocol Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol Depending on the situation and what the municipality needs or wants after a natural disaster, the UFST uses three protocols to assess debris volume, tree damage or risk of hazard, and potential tree planting sites to restore the urban forest.

Disaster Response Timeline Pre-storm planning: SDAP pre-storm Disaster Strikes 12-72 hrs 3-60 days 2 – 24 months >2 years SDAP Risk Assessment Protocol Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol SDAP pre-storm: Not currently in SGSF/Region 8 plan for UFST SDAP: FEMA debris management standards apply Risk Assessment Protocol: FEMA standards may or may not apply Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol: Local planting guidelines apply Federal Declaration Response Recovery Post- FEMA The various protocols are used at various times after a natural disaster. Several protocols can be used simultaneously depending on what the municipality wants or needs.

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol After a storm, municipalities will have a lot of debris to deal with. They will want to estimate the amount they have so that they can plan for its storage, and they need to know how much it will cost them to clean it up. Post-storm debris: Municipalities need to – Estimate amounts Estimate clean-up costs

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol What information does it provide? An estimate of the number and size of trees in the affected area requiring removal/pruning (per FEMA criteria) Estimates vegetative debris that has been generated Cost estimates for tree removal/pruning Cost estimates of vegetative debris removal This is info cities need for planning This is information that municipalities will need for budgetary planning and negotiating with FEMA for reimbursement.

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Isolate affected area using GIS layer or paper map Stratify into land-use areas (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) if needed Randomly choose 10-30 street segments from each stratum Obtain length of each street segment (ft) and total street miles in each stratum or the entire affected area City officials should have land-use information and total street miles for each stratum.

A tally sheet for each street segment will be needed This form documents removals, pruning, and debris in urban areas Fill out plot information as completely as possible (you may want to use “from” and “to” street rather than address) Tally the number of trees on the right-of-way that you believe should be removed or pruned by size class Estimate the amount of debris in cubic yards on the ROW and out 50 feet from the ROW (by 100 foot segments) For each randomly-selected street segment, a dot tally sheet will be generated. It will have the street name, team id, from address, to address, plot number, and date of data collection. Instructions about how to use it are found on the back.

24 cubic yards of debris Debris Estimation yd3 24 = 15 person van 20 = 4 door full size SUV 15 = Dodge Magnum S.W. 9 = std 6’x6’X7’ dumpster 5 = port-o-john 1 = dog house Consult Whole Tree Volume tables for wind-thrown trees Examples of debris estimation.

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Data from the tally sheets will be entered into the SDAP Excel spreadsheet by hand. Each stratum’s data will be entered separately and saved as a separate file.

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Enter plot information here Enter plot info, removal, and hazard prune information Enter removal and pruning information here

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Enter debris estimations here The software will automatically sum debris estimations Signify cubic yard debris estimation method by “Y” in the CY field Signify cubic yard debris estimation method by entering Y under CY field. Enter debris estimation information.

Storm Damage Assessment Protocol Set total street miles and costs The final report gives the community approximate costs of removal, pruning, and debris clean-up as well as approximate number of removals, prunings, and cubic yards so that the municipality can plan for the temporary storage of the debris. These values can also be used to negotiate a settlement with FEMA if needed.

Disaster Response Timeline Pre-storm planning: SDAP pre-storm Disaster Strikes 12-72 hrs 3-60 days 2 – 24 months >2 years SDAP Risk Assessment Protocol Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol SDAP pre-storm: Not currently in SGSF/Region 8 plan for UFST SDAP: FEMA debris management standards apply Risk Assessment Protocol: FEMA standards may or may not apply Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol: Local planting guidelines apply Federal Declaration Response Recovery Post- FEMA Assessing trees for risk of hazards can be done simultaneously with SDAP and/or tree planting site protocol. It usually is conducted after basic infrastructure has been restored and after health and safety concerns have been addressed.

Risk Assessment Protocol Basically determines if tree stays or goes Highly variable Depends on what community needs Can use FEMA-325 standards Can use local standards Used to negotiate FEMA settlement Used to develop interim management plan

Risk Assessment Protocol Basic components of data collection Species (can be to genus) DBH Location (preferably spatial) Remove entire tree or prune hazard limbs Justification Immediate action required Not storm related Notes (make it brief)

Risk Assessment Protocol Other components as needed Physical address “on street”, “from street”, “to street” Location on parcel Public or private tree Inspect further Corrective prune or other action Etc. (to meet communities needs)

Risk Assessment Protocol How to set it up Determine what the city wants (needs) What will city do with the data FEMA reimbursement UF interim management plan What is the extent of the damage What are the areas of prime interest What are the time constraints Know the limits of your resources Communities may not know what they want, so you may have to step in to let them know what they need.

Risk Assessment Protocol How to set it up Secure scaled maps and/or GIS layers of impacted area Recommended GIS layers Street (edge of pavement or centerline) Right-of-way Parcels with addresses Set-up GPS equipment or paper data sheets Data dictionary for GPS Excel spreadsheet for paper data collection

Risk Assessment Protocol

Reporting Block report Priority lists Location maps GIS layer Interpretation How does the city want it?

Risk Assessment Protocol Reporting Oklahoma Ice Storm Example of reports generated for Tulsa, OK Ice Storm response in Feb. 2008

Disaster Response Timeline Pre-storm planning: SDAP pre-storm Disaster Strikes 12-72 hrs 3-60 days 2 – 24 months >2 years SDAP Risk Assessment Protocol Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol SDAP pre-storm: Not currently in SGSF/Region 8 plan for UFST SDAP: FEMA debris management standards apply Risk Assessment Protocol: FEMA standards may or may not apply Potential Tree Planting Site Protocol: Local planting guidelines apply Federal Declaration Response Recovery Post- FEMA Potential tree planting site protocol is usually conducted after the clean-up effort, however, it can be done simultaneously with the risk assessment protocol.

Tree Planting Site Protocol Used to help communities re-establish the urban forest Usually there is no FEMA financial assistance for tree planting Funding could come from other governmental agencies (US Forest Service) Most likely not an ICS function

Tree Planting Site Protocol How to set it up Identify communities wants (needs) Obtain local tree planting criteria (if available) Public/private planting Minimum planting space Spacing requirements Planting under utilities Site triangles Etc. Communities may not know what they want, so you may have to step in to let them know what they need.

Tree Planting Site Protocol Obtain scaled maps or GIS layers ROW and/or publicly-owned property Parcel boundaries with address Develop GPS data dictionary or paper data sheet Street and address Public or private property Tree lawn size Utilities present Recommended tree size Notes

Reporting Block report Location maps GIS layer

? Urban Forest Strike Team Team Leader Response Protocols Review Eric Kuehler, USDA Forest Service New Kent, VA July 14-15, 2008 ?