6 
EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
HURRICANE DAMAGE TO PARK AND STREET TREES 
IN NEW YORK CITY 
By Allyn R. Jennings, General Superintendent, Department of Parks, 
New York City 
The tropical hurricane of September 21 caused untold damage to park 
and street trees in New York City. The wind attained a velocity of 80 
miles an hour at 3.39 P.M., greatly exceeded, undoubtedly, by gusts of 
short duration, and accompanied by 3^ inches of torrential rain on 
September 21, which, added to the heavy fall of the four previous days, 
made a total of nearly 9 inches. So the ground was in a receptive con¬ 
dition when the hurricane struck. Over 21,096 park and street trees in 
New York City were destroyed and damaged, causing a loss of approxi¬ 
mately $1,437,600 for replacements, repair and stump removal. 
We went into action while the storm was at its height with our entire 
force, aided by details from the Police, Fire and Sanitation Depart¬ 
ments and Borough Presidents’ Offices, spurred on by thousands of 
telephone calls from citizens stating that trees were lying on their 
houses or were leaning in such a precarious position that they were 
liable to fall and damage their property. Gangs with special equipment 
were rushed to the worst places, where, aided by Police and Fire squads 
working straight through the night, they eliminated the most dangerous 
conditions where life and limb were concerned. Other squads opened up 
thoroughfares where trees had fallen, blocking the highways. All the 
main traffic arteries were opened for travel by noon of the 22nd. Of 
course, some of the streets in the outlying districts were not opened for 
several days, and invariably those were the sections where the most 
damage was done, as the streets were planted with Poplars and Silver 
Maples which had grown to a vulnerable height for damage by high 
winds. Of course, the Park Department is not responsible for the 
planting of either Poplars or Silver Maples, and does not grant permits 
for planting these varieties as street trees. Any Poplars or Silver 
Maples now standing on City streets were planted by private real estate 
developers years ago and when these private streets were turned over 
to the City, the trees became a part of the care of the Park Department. 
With an assignment of 500 WPA men to supplement our regular 
forces, work has gone on continuously to date on the straightening of 
any trees, no matter how large, with lists less than 30%, and, as most of 
you know, the straightening and salvaging of large trees is quite a 
