RESPONSE: During the StormRESPONSE: During the Storm

October 13, 2010October 13, 2010

Storms and the Urban ForestStorms and the Urban ForestPreparedness and Response for Community TreesPreparedness and Response for Community Trees

White Plains, NYWhite Plains, NY

Joseph (“Bud”) Nicoletti, Jr., P.E.Joseph (“Bud”) Nicoletti, Jr., P.E. Commissioner of Public Works/City EngineerCommissioner of Public Works/City Engineer

The City of White PlainsThe City of White Plains

20,000 City Owned Trees!20,000 City Owned Trees!

Almost 14,000 street trees identified and Almost 14,000 street trees identified and located on GIS mapslocated on GIS maps

Additional 300 acres of drinking water Additional 300 acres of drinking water reservoir watershed (forest)reservoir watershed (forest)

Over 150 acres of parkland heavily Over 150 acres of parkland heavily populated by treespopulated by trees

All City-owned property, including parks All City-owned property, including parks and recreational fields, are the and recreational fields, are the responsibility of the Dept. of Public Worksresponsibility of the Dept. of Public Works

DPW Bureau of Highways & GroundsDPW Bureau of Highways & Grounds

Has a dedicated Forestry Section with a Has a dedicated Forestry Section with a Certified Arborist and three other Certified Arborist and three other permanently assigned employeespermanently assigned employees

Perform tree prunings, hazard Perform tree prunings, hazard assessments, and removalsassessments, and removals

Log removal, stump grinding and/or Log removal, stump grinding and/or

extraction, as well as new planting done extraction, as well as new planting done by separate crew.by separate crew.

Central Business DistrictCentral Business District

25 Square Feet

Pedestrian Barricade

Greenway Trail 1.5 miles longGreenway Trail 1.5 miles long

Unusual Trees IdentifiedUnusual Trees Identified

Disaster Strikes!!Disaster Strikes!!Tornado of July, 2007Tornado of July, 2007

Tropical Storm of March 13, 2010Tropical Storm of March 13, 2010

What to Do -What to Do - Roads are blocked; completely? Roads are blocked; completely? Electrical wiring involved?Electrical wiring involved?

Blocked RoadsBlocked Roads(Cutting & Clearing)(Cutting & Clearing)

Generate list of all streets that are Generate list of all streets that are blocked with fallen treesblocked with fallen trees

Look for trees that have the potential Look for trees that have the potential to fall, even if road is open at the to fall, even if road is open at the timetime

Identify trees that have become Identify trees that have become tangled up in wirestangled up in wires

Prioritize the ListPrioritize the List

Identify the top five roads that need to be Identify the top five roads that need to be cleared ASAP. Keep an “aging” list.cleared ASAP. Keep an “aging” list.

Consider dead end streets (only one way Consider dead end streets (only one way in or out)in or out)

Main roadways (major problem to traffic Main roadways (major problem to traffic flow)flow)

Primary access for emergency vehicles?Primary access for emergency vehicles? Level of difficulty in clearing (easier ones Level of difficulty in clearing (easier ones

first)first)

Fax List to Electric UtilityFax List to Electric Utility

Fax is usually preferable to emailFax is usually preferable to email Put road location clearing in order of Put road location clearing in order of

preferencepreference Call to be sure that list was receivedCall to be sure that list was received Ask for ETA of linemen crew(s); give Ask for ETA of linemen crew(s); give

location for initial contact within the location for initial contact within the municipalitymunicipality

Don’t leave the line crew alone for a Don’t leave the line crew alone for a minute! Escort them from location to minute! Escort them from location to locationlocation

How Much Assistance Can You How Much Assistance Can You Provide?Provide?

Aerial bucket truck Aerial bucket truck Ground crewsGround crews Grapple crane, wheel loaderGrapple crane, wheel loader ChippersChippers Disposal site (compost, roll-off Disposal site (compost, roll-off

containers, etc.)containers, etc.)

Grapple Log LoaderGrapple Log Loader

Morbark Morbark TubTub GrinderGrinder//ShredderShredder

760 hp diesel engine has four (!) Diesel Particulate Filters; 90% soot reduction

Wood Chips and MulchWood Chips and Mulch

ScreenerScreener

Recycling Yard Recycling Yard GreenGreen Drop-Off Drop-Off

Help Arrives!Help Arrives!

Right Spot for the Right TreeRight Spot for the Right Tree

Both the trees Both the trees andand the utility pole the utility pole wiring can change over the yearswiring can change over the years

Severe Pruning Severe Pruning – – can it actually can it actually make it worse?make it worse?

Tree can be left in a poor state of healthTree can be left in a poor state of health Radical pruning can leave the tree Radical pruning can leave the tree

structurally unbalancedstructurally unbalanced Many downed power lines are the result of Many downed power lines are the result of

the whole tree being uprootedthe whole tree being uprooted Maybe the right place for the tree is where Maybe the right place for the tree is where

it is, but the power lines should go it is, but the power lines should go undergroundunderground

White Plains – 1910 to 2009White Plains – 1910 to 2009

Things looked better by the late 30’sThings looked better by the late 30’s

STRATUMSTRATUM analysis of the Value of analysis of the Value of Urban TreesUrban Trees

Study performed by Fred Cowett of Cornell Study performed by Fred Cowett of Cornell University, Dept. of HorticultureUniversity, Dept. of Horticulture

Used City’s existing data for over 13, 500 inventoried Used City’s existing data for over 13, 500 inventoried treestrees

Program estimates street tree services value Program estimates street tree services value (including eco-system services)(including eco-system services)

White Plains has a minimum estimated value of over White Plains has a minimum estimated value of over $2,000,000 for the portion of trees studied, broken $2,000,000 for the portion of trees studied, broken down by species and DBHdown by species and DBH

Our Tree NurseryOur Tree Nursery

Watch your investment Watch your investment growgrow Buy smaller diameter trees at bargain Buy smaller diameter trees at bargain

pricesprices

New York Power Authority’s New York Power Authority’s “buy one, get “buy one, get one free”one free” program at about $75 per pair program at about $75 per pair

Use tree spade attachment on skid-steer Use tree spade attachment on skid-steer loader to easily transplant and move loader to easily transplant and move treestrees

Cornell Cooperative ExtensionCornell Cooperative Extension

Certified Tree StewardCertified Tree Steward Program Program Care of treesCare of trees Hazard assessmentHazard assessment Tree IdentificationTree Identification SafetySafety