The primary goal of assessing trees following severe storms is to provide information regarding the level of risk posed by the tree on a target. Targets include people, structures, property, infrastructure or items of value.
This process includes determining the:
- likelihood of failure
- impact of the failure
- consequences of the failure
Mitigation treatments can then follow if needed:
- prune the tree part that is likely to fail
- prune the tree to reduce load on the failing part, thereby reducing the risk while saving the tree’s structure
- install structural support systems, such as cables and braces
- remove the tree
- modify the site to reduce the risk to the target
- move the target or restrict usage of the area within the target zone
Finally:
- monitor the tree for health and further development of structural failure
- assign further future tree mitigation work if necessary to reduce the risk and improve the health of the tree