Davey Tree Flipbooks

P eople lost everything." When Aren Flint, Davey Resource Group (DRG) project manager for the Springfield, Massachusetts, project, visited the tornado- stricken city, she was blown away by the horrific damage. In 2011, a series of three tornados tore through western Massachusetts. The most severe tornado was an EF-3 level tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Damage Classification Scale that tore a half-mile-wide, 39-mile-long path straight through Springfield. The tornado's path destroyed seven neighbor- hoods, impacting 4,786 private lots and damaging 1,620 trees that needed removal or hazard pruning. "Homes were destroyed and there were no trees left in its path," Flint says. The community lost a lot of properties and trees due to the series of tornados—but its people never lost hope. City officials knew the best way to restore the community after a devastating storm was to create a proactive and well-organized plan. PROACTIVE PLAN. In 2012, the city formed the Springfield Energy Saving Trees project to restore the city's original charm. The city contracted DRG to execute the plan and then created a non-profit organization called Re-Green Springfield to spread awareness about the project to affected neighborhoods. Flint says DRG's team, including six International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborists, utilized their experience and knowledge to assist property owners within the affected neighborhoods. The team selected suitable planting sites and species to enhance future energy saving opportunities. "We covered the tornado-stricken area, asking homeowners if they wanted new trees," Flint says. DRG collaborated with the Central Nurseries of Rhode Island to install trees and followed with recording tree inventory data. DRG used a global positioning system (GPS) to map the location of each tree, then a Trimble ® Recon ® pen-based field computer to record collected information for each tree planted. Springfield continues to collect data about the replanted trees—making records of how these new trees impact the properties. EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. Although field work included several responsibilities, such as gaining permission to enter residents' properties, siting trees, planting trees and verify- ing trees were planted properly, DRG completed more than expected during the project. "We ended up planting more trees than the city thought we would," Flint says. "The project was going so well, the city received extra funding." The city's initial plan was to plant 600 trees in one month. However, DRG and Central Nurseries planted a total of 1,140 trees in six weeks. (On average, 60 trees were planted a day.) Davey's team ultimately visited 500 homes, delivered trees to 453 homes and planted and inventoried 1,140 trees, helping restore the community's urban forest. AWARD-WINNING JOB. During the project, Flints says DRG communicated well with the city, which resulted in a "very smooth" client relationship. The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) awarded Springfield the Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award for the Springfield Energy Saving Trees project and its success to develop a unique and creative plan to save a community after a devastating storm. Source: The Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management— 2012 Energy Savings Tree Planting Initiative Report A half-mile-wide tornado destroyed the city of Springfield, Massachusetts—but not its spirit. May/June 2015 | 5 '' Below left: A severe tornado left lasting damage on the Springfield, Massachusetts, community. Below right: One of the seven neighbor- hoods destroyed by the path of the tornado.

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