Key Takeaways
- Urban areas need to prepare for storms by forming dedicated storm teams and conducting tree-risk assessments.
- The cost of severe storms has significantly increased, with billion-dollar storms becoming more frequent.
- Proper planning, including securing contracts and establishing debris-management sites, is essential for effective disaster recovery.
Preparing Urban Forests for Natural Disasters
Staff and funding cuts in federal emergency management, along with political statements, have raised concerns about FEMA’s future effectiveness in assisting local governments during disasters. Matthew Lee from the Green Infrastructure Center emphasized the necessity for cities to proactively prepare for the impacts of severe storms on urban forests during a workshop at the Connecticut Tree Protective Association’s “Branching Out Together” conference.
Lee shared that the United States has faced six times more billion-dollar storms from 2001 to 2022 compared to the two decades prior, with the average cost rising sharply from $2.5 billion (1980-2020) to $15.4 billion (2001-2022). He stressed that unpreparedness can lead to high costs and inefficiencies during disaster events, urging cities to take preemptive actions such as creating a storm team, collecting baseline data, securing contracts for debris management, and designating sites for debris disposal.
Establishing a storm team consisting of experts from various agencies is the first step cities should take. This team should include local government officials, public works and emergency management staff, and Arborists to conduct tree risk assessments. Lee recommends conducting comprehensive evaluations ranging from quick surveys to detailed assessments using specialized technology. The Green Infrastructure Center offers tools to help these teams identify and prioritize tree-risk areas near critical infrastructure.
Having this data allows the storm team to make informed plans about clearing debris after a disaster, rather than reacting based on immediate pressure. The team should also secure standing contracts for debris removal and hazard tree management well in advance of storm season. Lee cited successful outcomes in Alexandria, Louisiana, after Hurricane Laura when pre-arranged contracts enabled quick response efforts.
Another critical aspect of preparedness involves planning for post-disaster tree debris management. Lee suggested establishing designated debris-management sites with long-term disposal strategies like composting, mulching, or landfilling. Additionally, monitoring these removal efforts is crucial to prevent fraud, as evidenced by federal audits highlighting discrepancies in contractor reporting.
Finally, while disaster recovery could involve tree replacements, community engagement is essential, as residents may take time to recover emotionally from damage suffered. Lee noted that it might take years before communities are ready to accept new tree planting efforts following severe disasters.
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