Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada. The ninth named storm, as well as both the first and major hurricane of the 2011 season. It made landfall over Eastern North Carolina's Outer Banks on the morning of August 27 and moved along southeastern Virginia affecting the Hampton Roads region.
After briefly reemerging over water, Irene made second US landfall near Little Egg Inlet in New Jersey during the morning of August 28, becoming the first hurricane to make landfall in the state since 1903. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made its third U.S. landfall in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York, at approximately 9:00 a.m on August 28. The most extensive damage within the United States occurred in the Catskill Mountains of New York State and in Vermont, which suffered disastrous flash floods.
Rainfall totals courtesy of NASA
...PENNSYLVANIA...LAFAYETTE 8.82
FORKS TWP 8.53
EXTON 7.83
WEST CHESTER 7.46
SPRINGTOWN 7.26
ASTON TWP 6.79
KING OF PRUSSIA 6.71
MORGANTOWN 6.21
PHILADELPHIA 5.70
Following major storms such as hurricanes and ice storms, property owners should have their trees inspected for storm related defects and conditions that require attention. Without leaves, arborists can perform a more thorough inspection of stem and branch structure. Even if damage is not apparent in your trees, they should be carefully inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist for subtle defects such as cracked branches, splits in stems and shifting of the root plate. These defects can lead to branch or even whole tree failures in the future. An Arborist can also assess severely storm-damaged trees and develop recommendations for remedial treatments or advise as to the need for removal.
Broken, hanging branches and branch stubs, resulting from breakage, require removal. Proper pruning techniques are critical to avoid insect and disease infestations later in the growing season. Trees and shrubs that have lost significant portions of their crown in the storm may require crown renovation. This form of pruning can begin now, but must be continued over a period of years to restructure a desirable, healthy crown. Trees that were damaged in a storm may develop structural weaknesses that will predispose them to future storm damage. Crown reduction or thinning may be needed to reduce the potential for future damage.
Trees less than 20 feet in height that now lean may require staking or guying. Larger trees usually can not. Guys and stakes usually are removed after one growing season, but may need to remain longer in some cases.
Plants weakened by storms may have already been under stress from various environmental factors over the last few years. Wounds created by the storm add stress to plants and they are more readily invaded by insect borers and disease-causing organisms. Plants should be inspected through the growing season for evidence of these “secondary invaders” and treatments applies as necessary to reduce damage. Fertilization and other amendments, applied based on soil analysis, will aid recovery. Irrigation and proper mulching of storm-damaged trees are important when dry weather returns.
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