Extension News: Disasters Archives

As the most recent winter storm winds down, you may need storm-recovery information on food safety after a power outage, safe use of emergency generators, thawing frozen pipes, pruning downed trees and branches safely and more. We've got it here:

Winter storm emergencies

Assessing and Cleaning Up Storm-Damaged Trees: Stay Safe!

Photo credit: fiat luxe Some rights reserved

While New Hampshire probably won't feel the full force of Hurricane Earl, the coast and some inland regions may experience strong winds, downed trees and branches, heavy rains, and power outages as the storm roars up the New England coast tomorrow night.

Stay safe! To keep your household's emergency plans updated, consult these online resources:

Hurricane resources General information resources

Food and Water Safety During Emergencies

Assessing and Cleaning Up Storm-Damaged Trees: Stay Safe!

ReadyNH Official N.H. emergency preparedness site.

National Weather Service Hurricane Center Up-to-date information about Hurricane Earl

Granite Staters face big and small emergencies of many kinds, from floods, blizzards, ice storms, tornadoes, lengthy power outages, and house fires, to public health emergencies such as Lyme Disease and pandemic influenza.

Preparation reduces fear, increases resiliency
Studies suggest that getting accurate, real-time information about the nature of a threat and making plans to deal with it reduces people's fear and increases their resiliency during and after an emergency.

Well-prepared individuals and families in turn lessen the burden on emergency responders, medical workers, utility crews, and many others whose work involves providing direct services in times of crisis.

New Web pages
Our new Web section, Preparing for Emergencies, offers New Hampshire residents information to help prepare and respond to a wide array of emergency situations.

We've drawn our online disaster-information resources from a variety of organizations, including federal and state agencies, the American Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). In the coming months, we'll expand and update it regularly. If you note gaps or outdated information in the resources we've listed, please let us know.

Heavy winds and other weather disasters can leave homeowners with with downed or damaged trees. A few tips for dealing with damage to your trees:

Don't panic, be safe and seek professional help: Removing large trees or limbs is dangerous. Don't climb a ladder with a chainsaw. Don’t climb into a damaged tree. Never touch any tree near electrical wires. Assess your particular tree situation carefully and watch for safety hazards.

Most tree work needs to be done by professional arborists, especially if the work requires climbing or when the tree is leaning against another tree or structure.

Assess immediate hazards first: Remove dead trees; trees or branches that are leaning; trees with broken or cracked stems;trees with extensive broken roots; and any large, dead, or broken limbs that are still attached to the tree.

Hire an arborist Hiring a qualified arborist will get the work done properly and safely. Trained arborists are aware of proper pruning and removal procedures and can reduce the chance of further damage to the tree. Check to see that they are certified and ask for certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage and worker’s compensation. Also, request local references and get more than one estimate.

Prevent additional damage Later, you may want to prune the damaged trees to improve appearance and reduce additional hazards. If the top has been broken, the tree should be pruned back to a strong lateral branch. Damaged branches should be pruned back to the branch collar.

Don’t forget to look at your trees in the spring and summer
Some damage may not be immediately apparent. Hidden cracks may cause branches to droop when leaves come out in the spring. Stem decay, as well as cracks, may lead to structural loss, causing the tree or large branches to become hazardous. Root damage may not be evident until twigs or branches in the upper crown begin dying after two or three growing seasons.

Hire a forester If you own large acreage, contact your County Extension Forester or a licensed forester to assess the damage, then salvage the trees if needed. Over time, damaged trees may develop decay and discoloration. As long as it is safe, there is no need to rush. You have more than a year to act before you lose wood to discoloration and decay.

By Karen Bennett, UNH Cooperative Extension forest resources specialist

For more information

• Certified Arborists


• Directory of Licensed Foresters


• Hiring an Arborist


• Large Tree Care and Pruning


• Pruning Storm Damaged Trees


• Managing Debris Collected After Severe Storms

Updated November 8, 2011

Tornadoes touching down in New Hampshire, three-day blizzards, or ice storms that knock out power for several days are without question newsworthy.

However, media-distributed images of the devastating effects of a natural disaster may be confusing and difficult for children to understand.

Very young children may see the many reports on television in the days after the event and believe that the extreme weather event is continuing to occur day after day, unable to understand that these are the same images being repeated.

In addition, many children's families or friends have been directly or indirectly affected by the storms. When talking to children about traumatic events such as these, here are a few points to bear in mind.

• Remember that not talking about an event doesn't mean children aren't aware of it.
• Listen first, then use questions to help you understand your child's emotions and concerns. Ask: What are your thoughts about that? What made you think about that?
• Acknowledge feelings; recognize that children will express their feelings differently at different ages. Young children will express feelings through behavior, often reverting to younger behavior. They may become loud and aggressive or shy and withdrawn
• Answer children's questions as completely as possible appropriate to their age. Children may become anxious if they feel an adult is hiding something. Try not to give too much information. Provide simple, direct facts, while reassuring children as much as is possible.

• Take time to think about and cope with your own feelings.
• Be willing to discuss difficult issues with your children. You may not have all the answers, but give what information you do have and acknowledge the sad and complex nature of traumatic events
• Acknowledge children's feelings and perspectives
• Remember that routines and predictable structure are reassuring for children.
• Remember to take care of yourself during stressful times. Eat well and try to get some exercise.

For more information

Talking with children after a natural disaster
Importance of Talking for Helping Children During Natural Disasters
Real Words to Help Children Cope with Tragedy
Children as victims of natural disasters

Updated September 17, 2009