Storm Recovery

Storm Recovery

David V. BloniarzDavid V. BloniarzUSDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service

Northern Research StationNorthern Research Station

Storm Recovery

The 4 Phases of The 4 Phases of Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

Response

Planning

Recovery

Mitigation

RecoveryRecovery

Actions Taken To Return To Actions Taken To Return To Normal Or An Even Better and Normal Or An Even Better and Safer Condition After an Safer Condition After an EmergencyEmergency

Recovery Includes Both Tree Recovery Includes Both Tree Related And Program Related Related And Program Related ActivitiesActivities

Recovery Part 1. Recovery Part 1. Tree Related Recovery ActivitiesTree Related Recovery Activities

Do Tree Damage AssessmentDo Tree Damage Assessment

Remove High Risk TreesRemove High Risk Trees

Prune High Risk TreesPrune High Risk Trees

Other Tree Maintenance?Other Tree Maintenance?

Tree Damage AssessmentsTree Damage Assessments

Estimate Amount of DamageEstimate Amount of Damage Helps Plan RecoveryHelps Plan Recovery Prioritize Neighborhoods Prioritize Neighborhoods

Needing WorkNeeding Work Identify High Risk Trees for Identify High Risk Trees for

Removal and PruningRemoval and Pruning Identify other Tree Care WorkIdentify other Tree Care Work

Assess storm damage Assess storm damage in a credible, and in a credible, and efficient manner efficient manner immediatelyimmediately after a after a severe storm. severe storm.

Provides information Provides information on the time and funds on the time and funds needed to mitigate needed to mitigate storm damage.storm damage.

i-Tree Storms (SDAP)i-Tree Storms (SDAP)Storm Damage AssessmentStorm Damage Assessment

Storm Response Strike TeamStorm Response Strike Team

Recruit & Train Tree Recruit & Train Tree Professionals Professionals

Deploy Crews To Disasters AreasDeploy Crews To Disasters Areas

Crews Do Complete Street by Crews Do Complete Street by Street AssessmentsStreet Assessments

Efficiently plan needed tree workEfficiently plan needed tree work

Document FEMA reimbursementDocument FEMA reimbursement

Flexible – Can be designed to fit Flexible – Can be designed to fit community needscommunity needs

USFS NA State and Private Forestry

Identify - Remove High Risk TreesIdentify - Remove High Risk Trees(Hazards)(Hazards)

Arboricultural StandardsArboricultural Standards

TargetTarget

Probablity of FailureProbablity of Failure

SizeSize

<50% HIGH chance

of survival

Maple 35%

Birch 40%

50%

65%

80%

= 50 – 75% Survive with

varying degrees of defects

>75% LOW chance

of survival

% CROWN DAMAGE vs. Survival% CROWN DAMAGE vs. Survival

85%

Remove broken, Remove broken, hanging stems so that hanging stems so that branches do not fall and branches do not fall and cause injury.cause injury.

Pruning Hazard LimbsPruning Hazard Limbs

Repair WoundsRepair Wounds

Bent TreesBent Trees

Leaning/ Uprooted Leaning/ Uprooted TreesTrees

≤ ≤ 4” inches trunk diameter4” inches trunk diameter Water or cover with tarpWater 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

Debris Removal EstimatesDebris Removal Estimates

White or yellowish spots

¾ - 1¼ inches long

Shiny black body

Look for Invasive InsectLook for Invasive InsectSigns and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

USFS NA State and Private Forestry

Long-term RecoveryLong-term RecoveryAvoid Further StressAvoid 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

Clean-up Debris /SitesClean-up Debris /Sites Continue To Keep Records Continue To Keep Records Review Existing PoliciesReview Existing Policies Update Tree InventoryUpdate Tree Inventory Evaluate PlansEvaluate Plans Seek Financial AssistanceSeek Financial Assistance Evaluate ResponseEvaluate Response

Recovery – Part 2.Recovery – Part 2.Program ActivitiesProgram Activities

Debris Management & Clean-upDebris Management & Clean-up

Debris Staging Areas - Removal

Debris Removal From Private Property– Routes And Schedules– FEMA

Wood Utilization Options

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.

Wood UtilizationWood Utilization

Communications/ Communications/ EducationEducation Work with MediaWork with Media

Press Releases On Proper Pruning Press Releases On Proper Pruning

Tree Planting EventsTree Planting Events

Provide information and Education to Provide information and Education to CitizensCitizens

Teachable MomentTeachable Moment

Communications Between Communications Between

Town DepartmentsTown Departments

Training for StaffTraining for Staff

Re-Evaluate Plans & PoliciesRe-Evaluate Plans & Policies

Urban forestry management plan Urban forestry management plan Community tree risk management planCommunity tree risk management plan Storm damage assessmentStorm damage assessment Public Tree OrdinancePublic Tree Ordinance

Engage Citizen VolunteersEngage Citizen Volunteers

PlantingPlanting PruningPruning EducationEducation Fund-raisingFund-raising

Tree Planting Tree Planting Inventory Available Tree PlantingInventory Available Tree PlantingSpaces for ReforestationSpaces for Reforestation

Planting SpacePlanting Space Utilities PresentUtilities Present

Species of TreeSpecies of Tree

Develop Planting PlanDevelop Planting Plan

FundraisingFundraising

Look for Partners to Look for Partners to Support Reforestation Support Reforestation ProgramProgram

Record KeepingRecord Keeping

Damage Assessment Damage Assessment

And Survey Reports And Survey Reports

BudgetBudget

Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance

Photographs, VideoPhotographs, Video

Evaluate Evaluate ResponseResponse at All Levels at All Levels

How Can we do it better next time?How Can we do it better next time?

Local Local County County

State State Regional Regional

NationalNational

Revise Tree Emergency PlanRevise Tree Emergency Plan

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