I went through hurricane Ike.  My Royal Empress Tree was 18 inches when I planted it.  I protected the best possible from the hurricane.  The flowering tree did wonderful, unfortunately the saturated ground drowned it.  It literally drowned to nothing.  I dug it up, planted it in a pot, and cut it down to the ground.  I did this only a week ago.  The tree is growing back and is already about 6 inches!  Itd never have believed it if I hadnt have tried it myself.  This tree is truly indistructable!