A question we keep hearing is 'Why Did So Many Oaks Fall During Hurricane Helene?' As one drives around it is obvious that many oaks fell during the catastrophic storm. However, so did many other tree species. Is there anything to the claim that it seems like more oaks fell than other tree types and if so, why?
Oaks Are Strong
Well, for one thing oaks are made from strong wood. The tops and upper limbs typically do not break in storms. Either an oak stands or it gets totally toppled. Other trees such as pine and polar will lose limbs and sometimes entire tops but the tree remains standing. This is observable locally with many pines and poplars looking as if they were topped.
People Choose Oaks
Another reason for what seems like a preponderance of trees that fell being oaks is that people choose oaks. When homes are built or when homeowners select trees to remove over time, pines and poplars are removed and oaks are kept and treasured as landscape trees. So, when the storm came the trees around homes tended to be oaks. Therefore, more oaks around houses on the ground after the storm.
Oak Decline
Oak decline is a complex of heat and drought stress that is weakening trees and leading to disease and wood boring insect infestations. Our weather has warmed over the last decades with winters not as cold and more frequent dry hot spells. Early springs and late frosts seem to be annual occurrences. All of these weather changes may be stressing trees, especially Northern Red Oaks.
Forest Maturation
Our forests are in mid to late succession. This is the stage of forest growth when trees begin to compete with one another for space, light, nutrients and water. You may have noticed the density of trees in a mature forest is less than in a young forest. Forests start out dense with growth and over time trees compete and the weaker trees will be outcompeted in this system. Oaks tend to be the winner in the long run and often forests become oak/hickory mixed stands in western North Carolina.
Conclusion?
So, did we actually lose more oaks than other trees? Well, in my neighborhood and in many others I have seen, oaks have been the predominant tree on the ground. However, in neighborhoods where there were mostly pines, many of them fell as well. As is the case with with any generalization, it often is sort of true. The main point to take away from the storm where trees are concerned is to have trees that might fall and damage property inspected by a qualified tree professional for defects.
