The storm that tore through north Dallas and Richardson on Oct. 20 left behind a trail of destruction that stretched nearly 16 miles. In Richardson alone, roughly 43,500 cubic yards of vegetative debris was cleared, according to city staff.
As communities continue to recover, the Texas Trees Foundation has committed to replacing trees lost in the storm. An initial assessment conducted by the foundation estimates that more than 3,500 trees were severely damaged or destroyed by the tornado on public property alone.
“As much as we wish we could immediately restore these neighborhoods back to the landscape we knew and loved, we must thoughtfully and carefully plan,” Texas Trees Foundation CEO Janette Monear said.
The foundation will also offer community information sessions that will inform homeowners on how to repair or replace trees on their property, according to a Jan. 16 press release. More information on those workshops is to come.
The city of Richardson will also offer tree-planting demonstrations for residents impacted by the tornado. The events, scheduled for Feb. 29, will take place at Richland Park near the pavilion at 10 a.m. and at Cottonwood Park near the basketball court at 1 p.m. Three trees will be given away at each event, according to a Feb. 3 staff presentation to City Council.
To learn more about tree-planting following a disaster, visit this link.
