Florida International University study shows trees can reduce hurricane damage to homes

New research from Florida International University reveals that trees placed in key locations around homes can reduce wind pressure during hurricanes, offering potential benefits for homeowners. "This report makes clear that trees protect our homes," Gulf Coast News investigator Dave Elias said.No one knows this better than Cape Coral resident Ben Kellogg, whose home is surrounded by majestic oak trees. "I bought this lot because I loved the trees," Kellogg said. "Well, I just love my big trees, and I always think it makes the house a little bit cooler." Kellogg said his trees have weathered 30 years of storms."We haven't had any damage to the house. Of course, we've had limbs break on the trees, but never any damage to the house since we've been here," he said. The study from FIU found that trees placed around low-rise buildings can reduce wind pressure on homes by as much as 50%. "This is wax myrtle," FGCU professor Brian Brevard said while pointing out a tree species.Brevard, who has also studied the research, said, "They're almost acting as a wind barrier, per se." Researchers gathered data on more than 40,000 trees and tested their resilience against Category 5 hurricane conditions. "A lot of the native tree species are actually going to perform better against the wind damage associated with hurricanes," Brevard said. Oak trees, like those surrounding Kellogg's home, performed particularly well due to their structural complexity and size. "Choosing trees that have evolved in areas where they're subjected to intense winds, those are the type of trees that have the characteristics that make them perform quite well against hurricane winds," Brevard said. He suggested that a natural "fence" of trees could hold up better than traditional fences commonly used in Cape Coral."Place it in the right spot on the landscape and then maintain it properly to reap the benefits," Brevard said. The research also raises questions about its potential impact on homeowners' insurance costs. "From the insurance perspective, this research is very interesting. Homeowners insurance companies are constantly attempting to better understand and control and nuisances of risk assessment," said Doug Nellans, an insurance agent with The Insurancenter. However, Nellans warned that trees could pose risks if not properly placed."If a tree is placed too close to a home and is toppled during a hurricane, it might actually exacerbate the damage if it makes contact with the structure," he said. For homeowners like Kellogg, the strongest defense against hurricane winds may sometimes be rooted in their own front yard. "It's good to know that. I never considered it," Kellogg said with a laugh. Experts caution that insurance rates are unlikely to drop anytime soon, as companies will need time to digest the data and understand how protective trees can be.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.