Storm Recovery David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service Storm Response & Recovery for the Urban Forest (Parry, 45 min.) RIDOT/RIEMA establishes evacuation routes; these are cleared by crews working for National Grid. USFS Strike Team participation Re-greening & re-planning phase Good Urban Forestry (Right Tree, Right Place) Managing Risk Trees Cost-recovery funding David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station

Storm Recovery Storm Response & Recovery for the Urban Forest (Parry, 45 min.) RIDOT/RIEMA establishes evacuation routes; these are cleared by crews working for National Grid. USFS Strike Team participation Re-greening & re-planning phase Good Urban Forestry (Right Tree, Right Place) Managing Risk Trees Cost-recovery funding

The 4 Phases of Emergency Management Response Planning Recovery Mitigation

Recovery Actions Taken To Return To Normal Or An Even Better and Safer Condition After an Emergency Recovery Includes Both Tree Related And Program Related Activities

Recovery Part 1. Tree Related Recovery Activities Do Tree Damage Assessment Remove High Risk Trees Prune High Risk Trees Other Tree Maintenance?

Tree Damage Assessments Estimate Amount of Damage Helps Plan Recovery Prioritize Neighborhoods Needing Work Identify High Risk Trees for Removal and Pruning Identify other Tree Care Work Inspections should also occur after a storm to identify hazards and efficiently plan for needed work – generally hazard tree removal, hazard pruning, restoration pruning and other tree repair . This lists some of the things to consider in evaluating the tree.

Storm Damage Assessment i-Tree Storms (SDAP) Storm Damage Assessment Assess storm damage in a credible, and efficient manner immediately after a severe storm. Provides information on the time and funds needed to mitigate storm damage.

Storm Response Strike Team Recruit & Train Tree Professionals Deploy Crews To Disasters Areas Crews Do Complete Street by Street Assessments Efficiently plan needed tree work Document FEMA reimbursement Flexible – Can be designed to fit community needs Process for Rapid Storm Assessment (Strike Team)- Developed by USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Southern Region - Dudley Hartel Background; The Southern Region worked with 10 communities in the states affected by the hurricanes in 2005. They developed and refined this simple assessment process. Using the ICS recruit, train and deploy qualified volunteers to respond to natural disaster to provide assistance. Volunteers crews used were mainly ISA or other certified arborists from around the country. This keeps municipal staff free for other tasks, and ensures professional assessment. Volunteers go through a 4 hour training. USFS NA State and Private Forestry

Identify - Remove High Risk Trees (Hazards) Arboricultural Standards Target Probablity of Failure Size Consider two standards when evaluating storm damaged trees for removal

% CROWN DAMAGE vs. Survival = 50 – 75% Survive with varying degrees of defects <50% HIGH chance of survival >75% LOW chance of survival Maple 35% 50% 80% Birch 40% Tree crown damage is one consideration in evaluating trees. Some trees will slow due to loss of crown. Growth in lightly or undamaged trees on the edges of disturbed areas may increase due to reduced competition. 85% 65%

Pruning Hazard Limbs Remove broken, hanging stems so that branches do not fall and cause injury. The purpose of canopy cleaning is to remove potential hazards like large dead branches and broken limbs. Cleaning also makes smooth pruning cuts behind broken branch stubs, which allows new growth to close over wounds. Most importantly, the least amount of live wood possible should be removed because the tree is stressed and needs to access energy stored in the limbs to recover. The food stored in the limbs is necessary for the tree to sprout, produce new leaves, and defend itself against organisms that cause decay. Do not do perform major pruning to alter the canopy shape. It is better to leave the tree looking unbalanced and misshapen than to remove large portions of the live canopy. Shaping can be done later as part of the restoration process. For safety purposes, get the hanging branches out of the way first, starting at the top of the canopy. This will prevent injuries caused by branches falling on tree workers below. The red dotted lines indicate where to make the cut. On the large, main branches there are often smaller side limbs located closer to the trunk known as laterals. A lateral is a branch arising from a larger stem. Ideally, the lateral branch should be at least 1/3 of the size of the main stem, and the lateral will preferably grow to replace the broken tip. After the canopy of the tree has been cleaned, these are the objectives for the time before the next visit. The sight of a storm damaged tree is discouraging – often the tree appears dead – and it is during this time that one will need the most patience to wait and see whether the tree begins to sprout; many trees will.

Repair Wounds

Bent Trees

Leaning/ Uprooted Trees ≤ 4” inches trunk diameter Water or cover with tarp Remove soil on uprooted side Straighten with winch Protect the trunk and roots Replace soil and stake Tamp and water well First, remove soil on the uprooted side so the root mass can fit into the hole. Straighten the tree with power equipment, winch or 'come-along', careful not to break additional roots, and to protect the bait where the rope or cable is attached. With the tree upright, replace soil and anchor in place using 2-3 guy lines attached to a point 1/3 to 1/2 the height of the tree. Tamp and water well to remove air spaces around the replaced roots.

Debris Removal Estimates

Look for Invasive Insect Signs and Symptoms Shiny black body White or yellowish spots ALB adults are relatively easy to identify. First of all they are big and “showy”. From an artistic standpoint they are nice looking insects. Once an insect reaches the adult stage they don’t get any bigger BUT like any species (and I specifically include humans) – you know that some are bigger than others. ALB adults will vary in size from ¾ inch to 1 ¼ (or even slightly larger) [not including the antennae]. The overall color is black. White spots are prevalent and if you look carefully at the antennae – at the front of the body – you will see a very distinct banding of white and black – all the way to the tip. I have an adult beetle with me and will pass it around for people to see. PASS THE ADULT ALB AROUND. There are other insects that look similar to ALB but please don’t hesitate to collect them for identification. ¾ - 1¼ inches long USFS NA State and Private Forestry

Long-term Recovery Avoid Further Stress Monitor for insect and disease problems Protect from construction damage, soil compaction and other damage Water, mulch and maintain as needed to help them recover

Recovery – Part 2. Program Activities Clean-up Debris /Sites Continue To Keep Records Review Existing Policies Update Tree Inventory Evaluate Plans Seek Financial Assistance Evaluate Response

Debris Management & Clean-up Debris Staging Areas - Removal Debris Removal From Private Property Routes And Schedules FEMA Wood Utilization Options

Wood Utilization In one year, logs from more than 200 cottonwood trees killed by floods on a local golf course were sold to a local sawmill and a firewood processor. Marketing trees blown down in a windstorm turned a potential financial disaster into $78,000 revenue through the sale of pulpwood, saw logs, and firewood permits.

Communications/ Education Work with Media Press Releases On Proper Pruning Tree Planting Events Provide information and Education to Citizens Teachable Moment Communications Between Town Departments Training for Staff

Re-Evaluate Plans & Policies Urban forestry management plan Community tree risk management plan Storm damage assessment Public Tree Ordinance

Engage Citizen Volunteers Planting Pruning Education Fund-raising Tree Care Advisors

Tree Planting Inventory Available Tree Planting Spaces for Reforestation Utilities Present Species of Tree Develop Planting Plan Fundraising

Look for Partners to Support Reforestation Program

Record Keeping Damage Assessment And Survey Reports Budget Financial Assistance Photographs, Video

Evaluate Response at All Levels How Can we do it better next time? Local  County  State  Regional  National Revise Tree Emergency Plan

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