See our three new guides on Tree Risk Assessment, Standing Contracts and Debris Management to meet FEMA requirements and ensure communities are ready for the next storm. A Community Forest Storm Mitigation Plan can be made part of the community’s existing emergency plan or can be a standalone plan. Such a plan should focus specifically on ways to avoid or mitigate the damage trees may cause during a storm or other catastrophic event.
Tree Risk Assessment: Get ready for storms by first identifying and treating risky trees and limbs to reduce storm damages and tree failure later.
Standing Contracts: Prepare advance or standing contracts to ensure you have the most qualified professionals to help you during a disaster and ensure faster cleanup
Debris Management Sites: Be ready to manage the significant debris from a storm so that roads and emergency services can be cleared and ready to function faster.
The Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) and the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) released a joint study of the benefits and threats facing Virginia’s coastal forests,“Resilient Coastal Forests of Virginia, Overcoming Challenges and Implementing Strategies for a Better Future.” Funded by the USDA Forest Service’s Southern Region, the GIC and VDOF assisted coastal counties and cities with mapping their coastal forests, modeling benefits and evaluating threats they face along with strategies to mitigate or reverse impacts.