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Contact Information Date
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gregg O'Donnell 434.220.9098		 September 19, 2008
VDOF-08027

VDOF Sends Team to Save Urban Trees

A team of urban forestry specialists from the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) will leave Tuesday for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to assess the health and viability of the trees damaged during Hurricane Gustav.

Damaged trees will be examined and inventoried. Trees with extensive damage, or that pose a threat to public safety, are recommended for removal. Pruning is suggested to repair damaged crowns. In addition, the health of trees not damaged by the hurricane will be determined and inventoried.

Paul Revell, director of Urban and Community Forestry, said, "Trees in urban areas have significant value to members of the community. Restoring the historical and aesthetic aspect of a community is vital to an area’s recovery following an extreme weather event."

All the team members are Certified Arborists who have storm damage assessment training. GIS technology is used to collect data and recommendations, and the tree locations were catalogued with aerial photos and GIS coordinates. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimburses the community for tree damage based on the assessment process.

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