Evaluating Storm Damage to Urban Trees

1. Evaluating Storm Damage toUrban Trees Storm Response Strike Team Storm Damage Assessment Protocol

2. Storm Response Strike TeamU.S. Forest Service Southern Region Response to Hurricanes in the South New Initiative Similar To Forest Service Fire Response – Uses Incident Command System Recruit & Train Tree Care Professionals Deploy Crews To Disasters Areas Crews Do Tree Assessments Hazard Tree Removals Hazard Pruning Estimate Debris Volume Assess Needed Replanting & Other Remedial Tree Work Create Reports That Document Needed Tree Work & Costs for FEMA 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.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.

3. Initial Planning

4. Crews Evaluate Trees on Public Property, ROW and Private Trees Threat to Public Location (GPS) Public or Private Species DBH Hazard Prune or Removal Justification ( code) Inspect? Immediate Hazard? Not Storm Related Does Not Meet FEMA Notes Data Entered in GPS Collect data on species, DBH, defect, GPS coordinate, etc. Data is entered in the data dictionary on the GPS unit (see attached data dictionary for listing)collect only info neededCollect data on species, DBH, defect, GPS coordinate, etc. Data is entered in the data dictionary on the GPS unit (see attached data dictionary for listing)collect only info needed

5. Two Levels of Assessment 1. Urban Forestry /Arboricultural Standards Forest Service Tree Risk Management Guide 2. FEMA Hazardous Tree & Limb Removal Standards FEMA 325 Debris Management Guide

6. FS Risk Tree Assessments

7. Hazard Tree Removal – FEMA Tree greater than 6” DBH At least one of these must be met: 50% crown loss, damaged, or destroyed Split trunk or broken branches exposing heartwood Fallen or has been uprooted >30 degree lean angle

8. Trees marked with paint Red = Hazard Prune Blue = Hazard Removal

9. Debris Removal Estimates FEMA Standards Generally On Public Property Or Row Some Allowance for Debris On Private Property

12. Urban Forestry Strike Team http://www.ufst.org/

13. MTWFA Project Cooperative Agreement with the Forest Service to Help Bring SRST Initiative to the Northeast Area Planning Committee - Attended Training in Virginia - Will refine and promote the process developed in the South for this area Recruit qualified participants Conduct Training in summer/fall Field test the process with trained crew on a storm event

14. Standardized method to assess storm damage in a simple and credible manner immediately after a severe storm. Provides information on the time and funds needed to mitigate storm damage.

16. Debris Estimate From SDAP

18. Data collection: PDA Will be demonstrating afterwardsWill be demonstrating afterwards