Tree Risk Assessment After Hurricane Season

Written by Rick Warner, City Arborist 
Dunedin Parks & Recreation 

We all just went through something that most of us have never experienced in our lifetimes. In 2024, three hurricanes made landfall in Florida within three months- Debby in August, Helene in September, and Milton just a couple of weeks later in October. The last two had a devastating impact on the greater Tampa Bay area, and our beautiful City of Dunedin was no exception.  

Hurricanes Heighten Tree Concerns 

It’s natural to have increasing levels of concern for the safety of our loved ones and our property in this post hurricane environment. Recency bias, a cognitive bias that favors recent events over historic ones, can elevate these feelings. That once-mighty Live Oak in your front yard, which seemed invincible, may now feel like a potential hazard. The sight of tree debris piles along the roads only reinforces those feelings.  

Understanding the Reality of Tree Damage 

The reality is a vast majority of the trees in those piles caused a relatively small amount of major damage in comparison to the amount of material in those piles. Many of those trees were likely already in poor condition, over pruned, or pre-disposed to structural failure. 

The sequence of storms also played a significant role. We had a massive water event with Helene that completely saturated the ground for weeks, followed by major wind from Milton. These were not ordinary circumstances; they were extraordinary. 

Reassessing Risk and Trusting Resilient Trees 

When taking stock of the trees on your property, consider once again that glorious Live Oak in your front yard. It weathered these storms and a countless number of storms before that and is still standing proud. The confidence you had in your tree before the hurricane season should not be shaken due to the recent events. It is important to remember that trees are more often sources of protection than threats. They win more than they lose.