How did you survive the winter of 2010?
Digging out has been anything but pleasant for all of us so, what we want to know is, how did you fare the storm? According to news agencies (and anyone looking out their window!) the snow fall in the Baltimore/Washington area threatened those in the record books. According to the Baltimore Examiner this season we have had 54.9 inches!
All of this record making sure comes at a high cost though, causing collapsed roofs, power outages, missed work and school, canceled travel plans, bare pantry shelves and lots of “cabin fever”. Sales of shovels, groceries and alcohol were up but millions in revenue was lost by airlines and department stores due to the blizzards.
The Associated Press reported hundreds of thousands of utility customers lost power in the Mid-Atlantic region. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said once 28 inches was reported at Baltimore-Washington Internation
al Airport that the “magical” number triggered significant federal assistance. The new Baltimore Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, issued a phase III emergency plan, which meant no one other than authorized emergency vehicles were permitted on Baltimore city roadways. She said that 100 city trees toppled during the storm.
Many homeowner faced even more challenges because they were forced to anticipate the dangers that the heavy snow created on roofs and branches. Homeowners can find tips from the Baltimore Neighborhood Housing Service on how to respond to storm damage. Since we’re in the tree business we can confirm that the trees and other plants in our area received quite the beating this year. There is no set weight limit for how much snow a tree and it’s branches can bear so it’s always best practice to clear as much of it off as possible to save your plants and to keep a safe distance from ones that you can’t clear yourself because there is often no warning sign right before you hear a cracking sound. Evergreens trees with shallow roots are especially prone to tipping under the weight of the tree and snow.
If you have storm damage from your trees please give us a call before doing it yourself because often times the “cleanup” can be a lot more dangerous than it appears at first glance. Our number is 410-335-8675 and we have been serving the Baltimore area for more than 29 years so you can be sure you will be getting quality and experienced service!
Sources:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/weather/bal-md.damage08feb08,0,4382934.story
http://www.examiner.com/x-29076-SF-World-Travel-Examiner~y2010m2d10-Slideshow-New-record-set-snowiest-winter-in-Washington-DC-history-blizzards
http://mddailyrecord.com/2010/02/10/phase-iii-implemented-no-driving-in-city-nearly-10000-md-residents-powerless/
http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=45531&zoneid=2
http://www.nhsbaltimore.blogspot.com/2010/02/dealing-with-damage-to-your-home-after.html