Southern Storms: A Tale of Loss and Lessons

The South is still feeling the effects of a recent storm that brought snow, ice, and destruction. Many people lost their lives, and thousands are dealing with the aftermath. Homes and businesses were damaged, and many people had to go without power for over a week. But the most noticeable damage was to the trees. The weight of the ice was too much for many trees. Branches broke off, and some trees fell completely. This happened in wealthy neighborhoods, rural areas, and city parks. Trees that had stood for decades couldn't survive the storm. It will take months to clean up the mess, and it might take a generation to replace all the trees that were lost or badly hurt. This storm shows a big problem: trees that help keep us cool in the heat can become a problem when ice builds up on them. In northeastern Louisiana, the timber industry was already struggling after a freeze in 2022 and record heat. Now, the pines have taken another hard hit. People in the South have a deep love for their trees. They can't imagine life without live oaks, pines, and Southern magnolias. In Nashville, over 2, 000 trees were lost in Warner Parks. The city zoo lost a hackberry tree that was over 150 years old. At Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, a century-old red oak tree is splitting apart.In Oxford, Mississippi, two trees that were there when author William Faulkner lived there can't be saved. In the heart of the city, century-old trees had to be taken down because of ice damage. City officials wrote a eulogy for the trees, saying they were more than just trees; they were a part of people's lives. The storm also brought criticism of the local public utility. It took nearly two weeks to restore power to all its customers. Some people think the utility didn't trim trees enough in recent years. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Cameron Sexton, the Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives, have criticized the utility's focus on protecting the tree canopy. The utility has said it will consider changes, including trimming trees more aggressively. Come spring, new trees will be planted across the region. But the holes in the canopy will likely take decades to fill in. Eric Brace, a musician in East Nashville, lost branches from his American elm tree. He said, \"You don't know what you've got till it's gone. \"