After each hurricane season, there is almost always something new to learn about the plants that make up our urban forests. Hurricane-force winds can be extremely damaging to the trees, palms and shrubs making up these communities. Most hurricanes are primarily wind events. Urban forest recovery often occurs within a year such that the casual observer would not recognize the ecological trauma of the last storm. Hurricane Ian, however, was an unfamiliar occurrence due to its significant Gulf surge that swept away structures and plant life alike.
It is important to point out that in addition to the storm surge and wind intensity, other factors influence the damage caused by hurricanes to urban forests. They include species, age and health of the plants in the area. Also relevant are the site characteristics such as soil conditions, soil composition and depth of the water table. These factors determine whether plants will fail during heavy winds compounded by a surge of widespread proportion. Even surviving trees and shrubs may suffer short- and long-term consequences. Let us review some of the apparent outcomes that may not be unique to Hurricane Ian but were highlighted by this powerful Category 5 hurricane and the accompanying surge.