Disaster Recovery

Natural disasters can cause significant impacts to rural and urban landscapes. We are available to provide technical assistance to landowners and communities to support recovery.
Man in hard hat cutting tree with chainsaw
  • In the event of declared disaster, we can mobilize and deploy an Urban Forest Strike Team to assess storm damaged trees on public property and rights-of-way to identify risk, recommend removal or pruning mitigation, and qualification for FEMA debris reimbursement.   Municipalities can become eligible to receive federal financial support through FEMA for debris removal after […]
  • After a storm, your first thought might be to get things cleaned up as quickly as possible. However, hasty decisions can often result in removing trees that could have been saved.   Ask yourself the question,  Can My Tree Be Saved?  Knowing what to do for your trees can make the difference between loss and survival. […]
  • Trees can recover from storm damage. Oftentimes, storms leave trees looking bare and deflated but looks can be misleading. Before deciding that your storm-damaged tree can’t be saved, ask yourself:  If the tree is healthy, not a hazard, and didn’t suffer major structural damage, it will usually recover if you apply first aid measures right […]
  • Young and newly planted trees need particular care and attention to increase their chance of survival. Especially in the cold. Though Texas is not known for harsh winters, the winter season can still be tough on trees as evidenced by Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Harsh conditions like cold winds, bright sun, bitter ice, […]
  • Wildfire response Texas uses a tiered approach to wildfire response. Local fire departments and counties are the first responders, with state response activated as wildfires become more complex.   We are the lead agency for wildfire response in the state and maintain a network of strategically placed personnel and equipment for an efficient and effective response […]