This article refers to trees bent by ice accumulation. I have a cedar tree in my yard that was literally split in half by an ice storm some years ago. It has since recovered and there is no indication that it was ever in an severe ice storm, unless you know where to look. I look periodically, and can see where the growth was interrupted and new growth began. We lost a number of limbs in this ice storm and the power was out for three days. The ice melted before the power was restored. Even if the ice were to last several weeks, I just don't see this kind of permanent deformation. None of this proves that this kind of deformation is manmade. I would be more inclined to think that a tree fell on a sapling, but didn't kill it and took long enough to rot that it resulted in this kind of deformation.