Climbers' Corner • Tree Academy
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday
PANEL DISCUSSION: Superstorm Sandy: Lessons Learned
Summary
“Superstorm” Sandy was one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit the eastern United States. Her unusually large size, slow
movement, and unusual westward track made for a “worst case” scenario with
devastating wind damage and unprecedented coastal flooding---and her target was
the nation’s most densely populated coastline.
Electric utilities
in the path of Sandy
were presented with challenges well beyond those encountered in more typical
coastal storms. Strong and unrelenting winds caused tree failures of the kind
and scope rarely seen; floods isolated entire communities from access, making
many homes unsafe to accept electric power; and a severe winter storm arrived
just afterward to further delay restoration efforts.
Utility
foresters from New Jersey, New
York, and New England will
discuss their experiences before, during, and after the superstorm.
Topics will
include:
-
Sandy’s development, track,
and regional impacts
-
Procurement,
logistics and support of mutual assist crews
-
Putting a
storm command structure in place to effectively deploy thousands of forestry
workers
-
Communicating
with customers, media, and public officials
-
Dealing with residual
tree risks to electric systems during post-storm follow-up
The panel will
address the unprecedented challenges, lessons learned, and some positive
outcomes which resulted from the superstorm.
Presenters
Robert Lee is the Forestry Manager for Jersey Central Power & Light, an electric
utility operating company of FirstEnergy Corp.; he joined JCP&L in 1990
as a division forester. JCP&L
service territory includes northwestern New Jersey and the coastal area from
Barnegat to Sandy Hook. Prior to JCP&L, Lee was city forester for the
City of Summit. He has a BS in Natural Resource Management from Cook College,
Rutgers University; he is an ISA Certified and a NJ Certified Tree Expert.
David
Goodson is the Manager of Vegetation Management at Northeast Utilities and is
responsible for the distribution line clearance programs at the Connecticut
Light & Power Company, the Western Massachusetts Electric Company and
Public Service of New Hampshire. Dave
has been active in tree care industry organizations throughout his career. He is a Past President of the Connecticut
Tree Protective Association and the New England Chapter of the International
Society of Arboriculture. As a member of
the International Society of Arboriculture’s Board of Directors he was Chair of
the Finance Committee. Dave was one of
the founding members of the Connecticut Urban Forest Council and speaker at its
Meskwaka Project. He is an honorary
Connecticut Tree Warden and presently represents the Utility Arborist
Association on the American National Standards Institute Z133.1 Tree Care
Industry Safety Committee. Dave earned an MS in Natural
Resources Management and Engineering from the University
of Connecticut, and a BS in Forest and Resource Management from West Virginia University. He is a member of Xi Sigma Pi, the National Forestry Honorary Society.
Anne-Marie Moran
started working at Massachusetts Electric Company in 1984 and joined the Distribution
Forestry Department as a District Arborist in 1993. Prior to being promoted to
the NE Manager position in 2011, she held Lead positions within the Department.
Anne-Marie is a
graduate of the University of Massachusetts, where she received a Bachelor of
Science in Urban Forestry. She has since received a Master of Science in
Management from Lesley University as well as a Certificate in Leadership and
Management Development from WPI. She is
a Massachusetts & Rhode Island Certified Arborist and ISA Utility
Specialist. She is a member of the ISA, New England chapter ISA, the Utility
Arborist Association, and the Massachusetts Tree Warden & Foresters’
Association. Anne-Marie and
her husband Bill reside in Holden, Massachusetts.
Larry Ferrandiz
has been the Senior Forester and Horticulturist for the Long Island Power
Authority since 1990. Prior to that
that he was an Assistant Professor of Ornamental Horticulture, specializing in
Arboriculture, at SUNY Farmingdale State University, and he is presently an
Adjunct Professor of Ornamental Horticulture at SUNY. He is a member
of ISA, UAA, EEA, and is an honorary life member of the Long Island
Arboricultural Association.
Climbers' Corner • Tree Academy
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday