Forests are net sinks of carbon and sponge it up from our atmosphere, with much of that carbon residing in soils in temperate regions. However, forest disturbances are expected to change forest carbon balances. More frequent and intense storms and other disturbances cause trees to fall, increasing both carbon (microbial food) and pits and mounds (uneven soil surface where water can collect). More carbon and moisture are expected to cause soil microbes to breathe enough oxygen to run out, leading to higher soil carbon but also possibly the release of atmosphere-warming gases. We tested whether a mock hurricane caused soil oxygen to run out and found that it did, even 35 years after the storm. With such a long-term effect, it is possible that storm dynamics could lead to new regional forest soil patterns that hold more carbon (good for the plants) but also warm the atmosphere.