1520 Richardson Lane (Tree Letter) 08.14.2008
August 14, 2008
Ms. Rosa Solomon
1520 Richardson Lane
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233-4331
RE: TREE STABILITY IN HIGH WINDS/STORM CONDITIONS
Dear Ms. Solomon:
I am writing in response to an inquiry you made on August 13th in regards to the stability of several
pine trees on your property located at 1520 Richardson Lane during high wind or storm conditions.
Specifically, you said the trees were previously assessed as healthy by a tree care professional;
however, adjacent property owners have expressed concern over the degree to which the trees have
been bending in recent high winds, such as those that occurred on the afternoon of August 13th.
According to research done by Dr. Mary Duryea1 following several hurricanes and tropical storms, a
number of factors determine the susceptibility of a tree to wind/storm damage. First and foremost is
wind speed, but the following are also considered important: wood density and flexibility, crown
density, tree age and trunk diameter. Remember, trees are like people, in that they become stiffer and
more brittle as they get older, meaning they are more likely to snap and break. Also, tall trees
encounter higher wind speeds because their canopies are higher off the ground, thus increasing
likelihood of damage.
Typically, pines that have not been well-maintained and pruned will lose some branches in winds as
low as 40 mph, but these branches are usually no more than 2-3 inches in diameter, and generally do
not cause property damage. Occasionally trunks are snapped or uprooted in tropical storm strength
winds (<74 mph), but this type of damage is not common until winds are in the category one hurricane
force range (74-95 mph). Also, it is uncommon to see tree trunks greater than 8 inches diameter break
in winds less than 120 mph (category three). In general, larger trees are snapped or uprooted by
stronger winds, but smaller trees are limber and bind with the winds up to about 100 mph. In winds
greater than 100 mph, small trees tend to snap or become uprooted. So, as to your neighbors’ concern
over the bending pines, a good general rule of thumb to share with them is this: If a tree can bend with
the wind, it will not break.
Furthermore, the City of Atlantic Beach encourages the preservation of healthy trees, supported by
proper care and maintenance, and it appears that you have made efforts to that end by consulting with a
tree care professional. You said that you have had these trees trimmed on occasion to prevent limb
breakage during wind/storm events. This is a good practice to be continued.
1 Mary L. Duryea, Ph.D., Forest Resource Extension Specialist, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Cooperative
Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
TREE STABILITY IN HIGH WINDS/STORM CONDITIONS
August 14, 2008
Page 2 of 2
When it comes to advice on the more technical aspects of tree health and maintenance, a good resource
is the Larry Figart, the Urban Forester with the Duval County Extension Office. Here is his contact
information:
Larry Figart
Duval County Extension Office,
Urban Forestry Division
1010 N McDuff Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32254
(904) 387-8850
lfigart@coj.net or duval@ifas.ufl.edu
http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu
I hope you find this information helpful. Please feel free to contact me at (904) 270-1605 if you need
additional information.
Sincerely,
Erika Hall
Principal Planner