Using micro-climates to protect against hurricanes, and maybe twisters?

[The Backlash Cometh]

One thing that seems to be lacking is information to help homeowners plan and establish natural buffers around their homes to slow down gusts of wind. Micro-climate is an old gardener's trick to use vegetation to improve environmental conditions for their garden. For example, it might be used where a garden might be on the dry side because of constant winds. Basically, you plant hedgerows on the outer borders, and trees a little closer to the home (but not so close that falling branches will become a concern to the roof). The winds come in and climb over the bushes, then climb the canopy of the trees and, finally, over the roof. In essence, the home has a natural barrier. The most work a homeowner has to do is make sure the trees are trimmed before each hurricane season.

I know that tree coverage is definitely a way to protect property, because there is a hammock of unkempt trees nearby which have had three dead, but standing trees which have survived four hurricanes. The other trees are protecting them from the winds, and even twisters which have removed trees which are standing out on their own.

Obviously, this form of barrier will probably work best for homes that are further away from the coast, however, it does says something about leaving natural barriers on the coast wherever possible to take the brunt of incoming hurricanes.

About twisters: This is strictly anecdotal evidence, but our area was badly hit by one of the hurricanes during that bad hurricane season a few years back and there was a twister touch-down, actually several touchdowns, probably from the same twister. It completely leveled an old mature oak tree which was standing alone, out in the open, but where there was a canopy of trees, it only twisted off the top branches as it skimmed over them. Possibly, it never went down to the ground where it could do more damage because the canopy was stopping it? If so, isn't there information out there to show what kinds of vegetations would be helpful to slowing down the progress of these bad weather patterns? I couldn't help noticing that the area which was badly hit by this last tornado, was a new home subdivision which had no mature trees or bushes.

Now, the obstacles: Most real estate salesmen will tell you that if you have an upscale home, don't cover it up with vegetation. The only way to counter that mentality is to sell the benefits of micro-climates. And if there's science out there that supports my position, maybe it would be a good idea to start filtering it out in the Home sections of our Sunday papers?