Dudley R. Hartel, Center Manager Eric Kuehler, Technology Transfer Specialist John Slater, Arkansas U&CF Partnership Coordinator Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia Urban Forest Strike Team Task Specialist Reintroduction Urban Natural Resources Institute June 2, 2011 Urban Forest Strike Team USDA FS, Region 8 Southern Research Station Urban Forestry South USDA FS, Northeastern Area Southern Group of State Foresters UFST Webinar Series Task Specialist Tree Risk (June 2) State Agencies UFST Response Role (July 14) U&CF Coordinators First 72 Hours+ (August 11) Task Specialist Mobilization (September 8) UFST Safety (October 13) UFST Program Status (November 10) Team Leader Lessons Learned (December 8) Webinar Outline Current UFST objectives UFST risk rating criteria Target, Size of part, Probability of failure FEMA 325 Debris Standards Hangers Removals ANSI A300 (Part 9) Tree Risk Assessment UFST tree risk assessment objectives Based on ANSI A300 Context, target, and scope Current UFST Tree Risk Assessment Objectives Provide municipality with a list of hazardous, storm-damaged trees Prioritize the risk to help with interim management planning Identify trees that potentially qualify for FEMA reimbursement Spatially locate storm-damaged trees for ease of mitigation treatment Contractors can easily find them Current UFST Tree Risk Assessment Attributes Species (or genus) DBH Risk ratings (target, size, probability) Risk management recommendation Prune Remove Inspect FEMA management recommendation Non-FEMA Prune Remove UFST Risk Ratings Target People/property potentially affected by tree failure Size of Part Size of the part of the tree likely to fail Probability of Failure Likelihood that failure will occur Mitigation recommendation Based on risk ratings [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-03] UFST Risk Ratings Target - People/property potentially affected by tree failure 1 Infrequent: limited-use trails, remote areas, low-use roads 2 Occasional: neighbourhood roads, parks 3 Frequent: high-use playgrounds, parks, picnic areas 4 Constant: immovable objects [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-03] UFST Risk Ratings Infrequent Frequent UFST Risk Ratings Size of Part - Size of the part of the tree likely to fail Reason for proposed change To reflect the degree of the hazard Dont use 1 or 2 for whole tree removal Current UFST ratings 1 < 8 2 8-18 3 18-24 4 >24 Proposed ratings 1 < 3 2 3-5 3 6-15 4 >16 [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-03] UFST Risk Ratings Probability of Failure - Likelihood that failure will occur 1 Low: the part may take a long time to fail 2 Possible: could fail given the right conditions (wind, ice, snow) 3 Likely: it is a matter of time for failure 4 Imminent: the failure could occur at any moment [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-03] UFST Risk Ratings Risk Management Based on risk ratings No Action needed Prune (Hazard) remove hanging limbs Prune (Other) prune non-hazard limbs Remove (Hazard) whole tree removal due to hazards Inspect (Immediate) possible imminent hazard, immediately have manager inspect more thoroughly Inspect (Routine) have manager inspect more thoroughly [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-03] FEMA 325 Debris Management StandardsEligible debris Generated by the disaster event Debris located within designated disaster area Debris located on applicants improved property or rights-of-way Debris removal is the legal responsibility of the applicant [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-02] FEMA 325 Debris Management StandardsHazardous Limb Removal (Hangers) Generated by the disaster event Located on improved public property or impacting it > 2 diameter at the break Still hanging in the tree and threatening public-use areas [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-04] Located on improved public property or impacting it ( Trails ) Management Standards Hazardous Limb Removal (Hangers) Management Standards > 2 diameter at the break and still hanging in the tree and threatening public-use areas Hazardous Limb Removal (Hangers) FEMA 325 Debris Management StandardsHazardous Trees Must satisfy all of these Caused by the disaster Immediate threat to lives, public safety, or improved property > 6 DBH Must satisfy at least one of these > 50% crown damage or removal Split trunk or major branches exposing heartwood Fallen or uprooted within public-use area Leaning > 30 o [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-04] Management Standards 50 % Crown Loss % Hazardous Trees Heartwood Exposed Management Standards Hazardous Trees Management Standards Fallen or uprooted within public-use area Hazardous Trees Management Standards Leaning > 30 o Hazardous Trees FEMA 325 Debris Management Standards FEMA Management Based on observations Non-FEMA mitigation actions do not qualify for FEMA reimbursement Prune (>2 Limbs) removal of broken limbs qualifies for FEMA reimbursement Remove (>50% Loss) removal of tree qualifies for FEMA reimbursement due to 50% crown loss Remove (Heartwood) removal of tree qualifies for FEMA reimbursement due to exposure of heartwood in stem or main branch(es) Remove (>30 Lean) removal of tree qualifies for FEMA reimbursement due to a 30 o stem lean [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-04] ANSI A300 Part 9 Tree Risk Assessment Recently released Allows UFST to specify our Scope of Work Industry standards / Reduce liability Specifications include: Objectives Scope of work Levels of tree risk assessment Type of risk analysis data Reporting methodology [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-01] UFST Post-disaster Rapid Tree Risk Assessment Specifications Objectives Quickly ID storm-damaged, hazardous trees In designated areas Professional recommendations to mitigate risk Scope of work Assess only trees Damaged by current natural disaster In designated boundaries On or impacting improved property Meet criteria for FEMA 325 Hazardous trees Hazardous limb removal (Hangers) Provide tree risk ratings / mitigation recommendations [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-01] UFST Post-disaster Rapid Tree Risk Assessment Specifications Levels of tree risk assessment Depends on where that tree is located Level 1 Public/private property CANNOT be accessed legally/safely No stepping on private property Will not be able to view all sides of the tree Poses obvious risk to public Level 2 Trees on public property Can be accessed safely [ Refer to WebDoc-2011-June-01] UFST Post-disaster Rapid Tree Risk Assessment Specifications Level 1 tree risk assessment Only on that portion of the tree easily visible from ground Easily visible from safest and legal vantage points ID obvious hazards per FEMA 325 Level 2 tree risk assessment Ground-based, visual inspection 360 o assessment Inspect crown, trunk, flare, exposed roots, conditions ID hazards that could impact people or property On public property On private property UFST Post-disaster Rapid Tree Risk Assessment Specifications Type of risk analysis data Tree species or genus Diameter Cumulative risk rating score Target Size of part Probability of failure Risk mitigation recommendation FEMA eligibility recommendation Spatial location What This Means for the UFST Task Specialist Only assessing storm-damaged trees From most recent storm All others walk by Change in assessment protocol Storm-damaged tree? Is it on public property or impacting it? Is it on/impacts improved property? Meets FEMA criteria for removal? >2 limb at break >6 DBH tree No more non-FEMA designation Decreased liability John Slater Arkansas U&CF Partnership Coordinator Eric Kuehler Technology Transfer Specialist Urban Forestry South Athens, Georgia