Ice damage resources
Spring in Minnesota brings fickle weather. Already this year, a late March ice storm caused widespread damage to trees along the North Shore of Lake Superior. These ice damage tips and resources are recommended by University of Minnesota Extension educators. See the links at the right to contact educators directly.
On this page: Trees | Housing and food safety
Trees
Tips
- Be patient. Don’t rush to make decisions about pruning or removal. You could do more harm to your tree if you take action too soon.
- However, hazardous situations should be addressed right away. An arborist or forester can identify trees that are hazardous and help you eliminate the hazard.
- Species matters. Each species of tree reacts differently to storm damage. An arborist or forester can make recommendations for pruning or removal of a tree based on its life expectancy and how the species reacts to storm damage.
- When pruning, avoid the temptation to top the tree. Also avoid the temptation to cut back unbroken limbs in an effort to balance or even out the tree’s appearance.
- In the future, keep an eye on the trees that were damaged. Even if they have recovered, they could become a hazard if decay organisms have colonized the wounded tissue.
Recommended resources
Housing and food safety
Tips
- During a power outage, do not open your refrigerator or freezer if you don’t need to. When closed, refrigerators keep food cool for four to six hours, and freezers for two days.
- Once power is restored, check food temperatures. If food was above 40 degrees longer than two hours, throw away the food.
- Even if it is very cold outside, don’t put food out in the snow to keep it cool. The sun can thaw it.
- Never taste food to determine its safety!
Recommended resources
