236 Hauer et al.: Assessment of Tree Debris Following Urban Forest Ice Storms Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 2011. 37(5): 236–246 Rapid Assessment of Tree Debris Following Urban Forest Ice Storms Richard J. Hauer, Angela J. Hauer, Dudley R. Hartel, and Jill R. Johnson Abstract. This paper presents a rapid assessment method to estimate urban tree debris following an ice storm. Data were collect- ed from 60 communities to quantify tree debris volumes, mostly from public rights-of-way, following ice storms based on com- munity infrastructure, weather parameters, and urban forest structure. Ice thickness, area of a community, and street distance are significant predictors for estimating debris from ice storms. Results from this study provide a way to estimate woody debris volumes from urban trees immediately following an ice storm. The model can also be used to predict debris volumes for storm preparedness planning. Key Words. Emergency Management; Ice Storm; Storm Damage; Tree Debris; Urban Forest. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid assess- ment of ice storm damage in urban areas and generate a community- to regional-level estimate of tree debris vol- umes associated with clean-up and disposal. It is hypothe- sized that debris volumes are a function of weather events (ice thickness and wind), urban forest structure (percent tree canopy), community attributes (land area, street dis- tance, population density), other unknown factors, and error (data measurement, recording, variability). The model ide- ally allows urban forest managers and emergency manage- ment personnel at local and regional levels to quickly and accurately estimate tree debris volumes after ice storms. Finally, the model can be used to predict debris volumes prior to storms and determine potential resource needs. Ice storms occur annually and routinely damage trees in urban and rural areas (Hauer et al. 1993; Sisinni et al. 1995; Van Dyke 1999; Hooper et al. 2001; Changnon 2003; Hau- er et al. 2006). The effect on urban tree damage varies from minor twig and branch breakage, to greater damage from bent or split stems, and extreme damage resulting from ex- tensive canopy breakage to snapped and uprooted trees. Par- tially damaged trees may require removal soon after an ice storm, especially if deemed a high risk for failure (Hauer and Johnson 2003). Residual tree damage can last several years after an ice storm, requiring further tree maintenance or removal (Zipperer et al. 2004; Kraemer and Nyland 2009). Several factors are associated with tree damage from ice storms. One factor is the accumulation of ice from freezing rain that increases with storm duration and precipitation (Yip 1995; Jones 1996). Ice accumulation is positively correlated with tree damage (Rebertus et al. 1997; Proulx and Greene 2001; Chan- gnon 2003; Lafon 2004; Millward and Kraft 2004; Olthof et al. 2004; Hauer et al. 2006; Greene et al. 2007; Houston and Changnon 2007; Liu et al. 2008). Wind is another factor that ©2011 International Society of Arboriculture is suggested to increase tree damage during ice storms; how- ever, findings are inconsistent with no simple pattern emerg- ing (Rogers 1922; Semonin 1978; Bruederle and Stearns 1985; De Steven et al. 1991; Jones 1996; Lafon et al. 1999; Proulx and Greene 2001, Millward and Kraft 2004; James et al. 2006; Greene et al. 2007; Houston and Changnon 2007). Many other tree factors that influence potential tree damage include tree species, branching architecture, wood physical properties, structural defects, tree size, and tree or stand density (Hauer et al. 1993; Sisinni et al. 1995; Rhoads et al. 2002; Millward and Kraft 2004; Hauer et al. 2006). The aspect, slope, and elevation of a site are also factors related to ice storm dam- age with these geographical features affecting ice accumula- tion (Siccama et al. 1976; Van Dyke 1999; Millward and Kraft 2004; Kenderes 2007; Stue enderes 2007; Stueve et al. 2007). Finally, as the spa- , as the spa- tial scale of the storm increases, the cumulative sum of dam- age increases (Van Dyke 1999; Jacobs 2000; Ciesla 2001). Damage Assessment and Debris Estimation After Ice Storms Communities face challenges to respond and recover from ice storms (Burban and Andresen 1994). Ideally, risk management plans should be in place prior to ice storms to address mitiga- tion and prevention strategies, cover preparedness planning, and incorporate warning systems that predict the potential of a di- saster (Hauer and Johnson 2003; Hauer et al. 2006; Godschalk et al. 2009). Implementing effective, efficient, equitable meth- ods to assess the severity of tree damage and estimate tree de- bris is an important component of the response and recovery pro- cess (Bloniarz et al. 2001; FEMA 2007; Escobedo et al. 2009). Tree damage assessment and debris management (e.g., esti- mation, collection and disposal) are some of the most challeng- ing events following storms (FEMA 2007). Assessing tree dam-
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