FLOOD06155

• County: Statewide
• Community: State
• Stream Name: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Storms Over the Urban Forest: A Community Guide to Disaster Relief
• Date: 1/1/1994
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: USFWS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Forward

When a disaster such as a wind or ice storm strikes a municipality, it causes the people and government
officials to take actions to ensure survival and safety of its citizens. Downed trees, power lines and
wrecked property are major hindrances in getting help to injured people. The beautiful shade tree, now
severely damaged, is a hazard that has to be removed in a hurry to get emergency vehicles through the
city.

Only after several days and weeks of clean up does the impact of the damage and loss of trees become a
stark reality. The urban forest we all had taken for granted is mostly gone or severely damaged. A lot of
time and money has been spent on these trees just to clean them up, The few trees that remain have
been cut and topped so they look like telephone poles with stubs sticking out, with little hope of their
recovery. This is when people start looking at the loss of their urban forest and all of its benefits that they
had enjoyed. Sadly, it is almost too late to help the situation. It would have been better to have taken
action to protect these trees before the storm, including an action plan for treatment of these trees if a
disaster does take place.

In a community that does not have a tree board or park department to direct the management of city
trees, its movement to correct the situation may be slow and unorganized. If a good forestry program had
been in place before the storm, fewer mistakes in storm damage clean up and damaged tree care would
have occurred. There could have been fewer hazards, not only from violent weather events, but also from
weak over-mature trees, which are those most subject to windfall and breakage. Emergency crews of tree
trimmers and removers would have had clear directions on how to get the work done without causing
added damage to the trees. Also, a contingency policy and funds for replanting would have been
available.

State and Federal Emergency Management Agencies stand ready to help in a disaster situation; however;
they are not prepared to direct proper tree care for the community. Each city has to take this
responsibility. Storms Over the Urban Forest is the handbook to help communities plan, respond and
regreen their town besieged by a natural disaster.

Gerald L. Jensen
Division of Forestry
Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources

I 1