another thing that i noticed in most of the trees that were completely blown over was the lack of any significant taproot, much less an extensive root system. there was little that anchored them in the ground. very shallow root wads. i suppose this is due to factors such as successive trees being planted in an ongoing depleted soil, especially in urban settings where soil is never really allowed to build, the species of tree - native vs. non-native, differences among species, etc - and the environment it grows into, and maybe the stl weather conditions - limited yearly rainfall, extremes in temp, excessive heat in the summer. anyway, here are some examples of what i'm refering to re the lack of tap roots in downed trees.