OMAHA, Nebraska (KMTV) – Whether it was the tornadoes in April, the storms in June or just last week, our neighborhoods have lost a lot of trees in the last few months. While the focus is heavily on cleanup efforts, Nebraska Extension says the losses we’ve experienced also create opportunities when it’s time to replant.

• Many trees have been lost in Omaha’s neighborhoods due to storms in recent months.
• Over 2,700 trees were destroyed or damaged in storms, including the April 26 tornadoes, the June 25 storms, and the historic July 31 storm.
• 2,200 deaths and more can be attributed to the storm of July 31 alone.
• The loss of trees offers the opportunity to increase the diversity of the landscape.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:
“You could literally see more branches falling in the area at the same time,” said Steve Brown, a neighbor from Dundee.

“Big, old silver maple,” said Rick Dibelka, a neighbor from Omaha.

A series of storms have broken branches and uprooted trees throughout Omaha.

“Since last Wednesday, 200 trees have been removed from the golf course,” said Jessica Brabec, tournament director of the Pinnacle Bank Championship.

According to the City of Omaha, more than 2,700 trees were destroyed or damaged by the April 26 tornadoes, the June 25 storms and last week’s historic storm. The vast majority of those, 2,200 and more, were caused by last week’s storm alone.

“We’re really seeing what we expected,” said John Fech, horticulture educator with the Nebraska Extension.

Fech says the hardy trees have held up pretty well, but the fast-growing, disease-prone trees have not.

“This means the loss of many of the benefits that trees provide, such as shade, privacy and habitat,” Fech said. “We’ve also lost some species that don’t do particularly well in our area.”

But Fech says the loss offers homeowners options.

“It gives us the opportunity to increase diversity in the landscape and plant trees that are currently underplanted and also plant trees that have a little more to offer,” Fech said.

And despite the devastation, there is “another silver lining: Fall is a great time to plant a tree,” Fech said. “From our perspective, it’s about choosing the right place for the right plant, considering how big and what shape the tree will be and what purpose it will serve.”

If you have a tree that has been damaged, or if you are perhaps concerned about the structural integrity of the tree, Fech advises contacting the International Society of Arborculture and the Nebraska Arborist Association.