[MAIPC] 03/02/18 Weather Alert: High Wind Warning

Fri Mar 9 09:41:22 PST 2018

Hi Marc,

I've never really considered this effect before. It's an interesting perspective as it often comes up (for better or worse), how can this be related to dollars. The cost for tree downs and power outage can presumably be obtained (although I've never tried it) and compare it with the cost of preventable measures of invasive removal efforts. Just thinking about your question a little:

Is the implication that invasive woody vine species add an additional amount of weight stress during these heavy snowy and high wind storms? Or is it because these trees are dead and/or dying from being strangled? My first question is, ignoring any vine invaders for the moment, does the proximity of a tree to a roadway already increase the likelihood of it falling down compared to a structurally "undisturbed" habitat (i.e., wood lot/forest)? I would suggest perhaps surveying pre-selected comparable stretches of highway with and without invaders as well as comparable wood lots / forests with and without vine invaders you've mentioned below. This would quantify an answer to your question of the effect of invasive vines on the increased number of tree downs during storm events and comparing edge vs continuous habitat. My second question is, were there trees you observed that hadn't fallen and were they vine free? Did vines appear to play a role in the falling? This would best be answered statistically when comparing a "reference" habitat. We all know highways are well-known corridors for invaders. As I drive along I-78 or I-95 in New Jersey, I see miles and miles of tree lines covered in bittersweet, honeysuckle, and grape. Certainly more so than any uninvaded tree lines. If most of my drive has an invaded tree line, odds are, you would see more trees that would have invaders on them.  My third questions is, do you think there an effect of tree size, invasive vine species, or extent of vine coverage that increases likelihood of falling? These are metrics that could be easily documented and noted by volunteers and citizen scientists.   You'd be able to target areas to treat and remove if you know the most vulnerable species and tree sizes.

From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> On Behalf Of Imlay, Marc
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2018 11:06 AM
To: Southern Maryland Executive Committee <MD-SMD-EXCOM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>; MD Cons Committee <MD-CONS-COMM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>; 'INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU' <INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>; 'FOSC listserv' <friendsofsligocreek at yahoogroups.com>; Maryland Energy Committee <MD-ENERGY-COMM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>; maipc at lists.maipc.org; apwg at lists.plantconservation.org; 'MNPS Board' (board at mdflora.org) <board at mdflora.org>
Cc: Colleen Aistis <caistis at hyattsville.org> (caistis at hyattsville.org) <caistis at hyattsville.org>; Sweet, Benjamin <Benjamin.Sweet at pgparks.com>; Jennifer Reginald <jennifer at jenreginald.com>; Dillon, John <John.Dillon at pgparks.com>; Simmonds, Tanya <Tanya.Simmonds at pgparks.com>; Mills, Devin <Devin.Mills at pgparks.com>; Abellera, Jon Paolo <JonPaolo.Abellera at pgparks.com>; Garrett, Chris <Chris.Garrett at pgparks.com>; Jacob, Stephanie <Stephanie.jacob at pgparks.com>; Port Tobacco River Conservancy <jsimpson at porttobaccoriver.org>; DaSilva, Calvin <Calvin.DaSilva at Pgparks.com>; reginald.lea at pgcps.org; Adams, Michelle <Michelle.adams at Pgparks.com>; Dolesh, Mike <Mike.Dolesh at pgparks.com>; Lee, Jill <Jill.Lee at pgparks.com>; 'dtaft at hyattsville.org' <dtaft at hyattsville.org>; Abrams, Amanda <Amanda.Abrams at pgparks.com>; MacGregor, Ashlyn <Ashlyn.MacGregor at Pgparks.com>; Harley, George <George.Harley at pgparks.com>; Westby, Brooke <Brooke.Westby at pgparks.com>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] 03/02/18 Weather Alert: High Wind Warning

I did a study of the first 5 trees I found that had fallen down over highways causing traffic to stop because of the Friday March 3 wind storm. The first was strangled by oriental bittersweet, the second by oriental bittersweet, the third no vine found, the fourth American Grape, the fifth Japanese honeysuckle. About 8 years ago 7 trees came down in a February storm. All were strangled by English Ivy in a 30 acre park. No other trees came down.

So let us do a statistical study after the next gross storm.

From: Imlay, Marc
Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2018 10:50 AM
To: 'Southern Maryland Executive Committee' <MD-SMD-EXCOM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG<mailto:MD-SMD-EXCOM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>>; 'MD Cons Committee' <MD-CONS-COMM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG<mailto:MD-CONS-COMM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>>; INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU<mailto:INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>; 'FOSC listserv' <friendsofsligocreek at yahoogroups.com<mailto:friendsofsligocreek at yahoogroups.com>>; 'Maryland Energy Committee' <MD-ENERGY-COMM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG<mailto:MD-ENERGY-COMM at LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG>>
Cc: Simmonds, Tanya <Tanya.Simmonds at pgparks.com<mailto:Tanya.Simmonds at pgparks.com>>; Abellera, Jon Paolo <JonPaolo.Abellera at pgparks.com<mailto:JonPaolo.Abellera at pgparks.com>>; Abrams, Amanda <Amanda.Abrams at pgparks.com<mailto:Amanda.Abrams at pgparks.com>>; Adams, Michelle <Michelle.adams at Pgparks.com<mailto:Michelle.adams at Pgparks.com>>; Dillon, John <John.Dillon at pgparks.com<mailto:John.Dillon at pgparks.com>>; Dolesh, Mike <Mike.Dolesh at pgparks.com<mailto:Mike.Dolesh at pgparks.com>>; Garrett, Chris <Chris.Garrett at pgparks.com<mailto:Chris.Garrett at pgparks.com>>; Harley, George <George.Harley at pgparks.com<mailto:George.Harley at pgparks.com>>; Lee, Jill <Jill.Lee at pgparks.com<mailto:Jill.Lee at pgparks.com>>; Mills, Devin <Devin.Mills at pgparks.com<mailto:Devin.Mills at pgparks.com>>; Sweet, Benjamin <Benjamin.Sweet at pgparks.com<mailto:Benjamin.Sweet at pgparks.com>>; Westby, Brooke <Brooke.Westby at pgparks.com<mailto:Brooke.Westby at pgparks.com>>; Ellis, Michael <Michael.Ellis at pgparks.com<mailto:Michael.Ellis at pgparks.com>>; DaSilva, Calvin <Calvin.DaSilva at pgparks.com<mailto:Calvin.DaSilva at pgparks.com>>; MacGregor, Ashlyn <Ashlyn.MacGregor at pgparks.com<mailto:Ashlyn.MacGregor at pgparks.com>>; reginald.lea at pgcps.org<mailto:reginald.lea at pgcps.org>; 'Port Tobacco River Conservancy' <jsimpson at porttobaccoriver.org<mailto:jsimpson at porttobaccoriver.org>>; dtaft at hyattsville.org<mailto:dtaft at hyattsville.org>; Colleen Aistis <caistis at hyattsville.org<mailto:caistis at hyattsville.org>> (caistis at hyattsville.org<mailto:caistis at hyattsville.org>) <caistis at hyattsville.org<mailto:caistis at hyattsville.org>>; Jacob, Stephanie <Stephanie.jacob at pgparks.com<mailto:Stephanie.jacob at pgparks.com>>; Carol Bergman (carole.bergmann at mncppc-mc.org<mailto:carole.bergmann at mncppc-mc.org>) <carole.bergmann at mncppc-mc.org<mailto:carole.bergmann at mncppc-mc.org>>; 'Jennifer Reginald' <jennifer at jenreginald.com<mailto:jennifer at jenreginald.com>>
Subject: FW: 03/02/18 Weather Alert: High Wind Warning

I have not yet seen trees come down in the parks where volunteers removed all the non-native invasive vines that would otherwise strangle and weaken them, including English Ivy, Oriental bittersweet and Japanese Honeysuckle. Would it have cost less for our government to have spent the $ with preventive care than what it cost yesterday restoring roads, buildings and hospital visits.

Marc Imlay
Sierra Club Natural Places Chapter Chair working group
301-442-5657 ialm at erols.com<mailto:ialm at erols.com>

From: Mncppc-News
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 4:35 PM
Subject: 03/02/18 Weather Alert: High Wind Warning

Forwarded on behalf of the Safety Team.

[cid:image001.png at 01D3B79B.87497AF0]
Potential Hazardous Weather Conditions

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for Prince George's County and Montgomery County, which is in effect from 7 AM Friday to 6 AM EST Saturday.  The strongest winds will be Friday afternoon through Friday evening, and are predicted to be 25 to 40 mph, with gusts around 60 to 70 mph.

Individuals and M-NCPPC facilities should prepare for the possibility of damaging winds that may blow down trees and power lines.  Also, widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Staff is asked to monitor forecasts and be prepared to take action should warnings be issued.

Preparing for Strong Wind Gusts:

  *   Bring Loose Items Indoors.  Objects left outside in wind storms can either become projectiles and potentially injure people and property, or the objects themselves can be lost, damaged, or ruined. It is important to remember that nothing is more important than the safety of people, so objects should only be brought indoors if it is safe to do so.

  *   Secure Large Outdoor Objects.  Some objects will simply be too big to safely bring indoors in the event of high winds, but even if they are too large to bring in, they can still be affected by wind. If possible, these items should be anchored and secured.  Objects to consider include signs, tables, chairs, large umbrellas, play structures, watercrafts, garbage cans, and much more. There are many ways to safely secure these objects, including weights, ropes, chains, and stakes.

  *   Close and Secure Doors and Windows.  Closing windows and doors is a simple step that can be easily forgotten while everyone is securing objects, collecting their belongings, and heading indoors. Open windows can result in water damage or broken glass. If there are shutters, it is important to close them. Also, close and secure doors since strong winds can easily rip them from hinges.

M-NCPPC Notice 11-08<https://www.mncppc.org/DocumentCenter/View/5772> Please see M-NCPPC NOTICE 11-08, "Preparation, Staffing, and Compensation During Emergency Conditions,"<https://www.mncppc.org/DocumentCenter/View/5772> Which outlines further steps to follow in the event of a weather emergency.

In the event of an accident or injury, call the Risk Management and Workplace Safety Office as follows:

  *   During regular hours
301-454-1686 or 1692

  *   After hours
301-275-5125 or 240-393-0419

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.maipc.org/pipermail/maipc-maipc.org/attachments/20180309/08b95441/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 66886 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://lists.maipc.org/pipermail/maipc-maipc.org/attachments/20180309/08b95441/attachment-0001.png>