I have been receiving quite a few calls from landowners regarding storm-damaged trees. In my opinion, after the most immediate and obvious damage has been attended to, it is imperative to evaluate the conditions and indicators which may cause future risks and hazards to access, structures, and personal safety.

During this post-storm period, it would be prudent for landowners to walk through their woods and neighborhoods and examine the trees for signs of damage. Typical hazards to look for include large hanging branches, broken tops suspended over homes and driveways, and “root-wrenched” trees which may fall at any time. Look for evergreen trees and their branches suspiciously turning yellow or red in the next few months.

An excellent source of general information for those with internet access is the King County WSU Extension Web site, http://king.wsu.edu/forestry/windstorm.html. This site provides a wealth of information for both urban residents and rural forest landowners.

Elliott Menashe

Greenbelt Consulting

Clinton