Wind disturbance is prevalent in temperate forest ecosystems, with wind-uprooted trees creating varying microsites, such as mounds, pits, and downed boles (trees). Heterogeneous in resource content, these microsites have been shown to initially host distinct plant communities, but less is known about how this heterogeneity impacts longer-term species diversity. Thus, I investigated how a partial disturbance, through heterogeneous resource distribution across microsites, impacts plant species diversity and composition over time. Working in a large experimental plot established in 1990, in which 70% of the overstory trees were pulled over to simulate hurricane disturbance, I established two main hypotheses: 1) Because resource heterogeneity between microsites likely decreases over time after disturbance, the correlation between microsite diversity and species diversity will also weaken over time. 2) Due to differences in resources and growth conditions between types of microsites, each microsite will host distinct plant communities. To investigate hypothesis 1, I surveyed 96 1m2 herb plots and 10m2 shrub plots, gathering presence and abundance data on plants and microsites. Using the Shannon Diversity Index, I calculated each plot’s species and microsite diversity for each survey year. I found a statistically significant positive correlation between herb and microsite diversity in 1995, but no consistent correlation thereafter, and no significant correlations between shrub and microsite diversity. For hypothesis 2, I recorded the species present on 86 mounds, their associated pits and boles, and proximate areas of undisturbed ground in the Hurricane Plot. Compared to undisturbed ground, mounds had significantly greater species richness (even hosting 22 species found on no other microsites), while pit and bole richness was significantly lower. These findings suggest limited long-term correlation between substrate and species diversity following disturbance. However, by creating resource-varying microsites, disturbances promote long-term understory diversity and robustness by providing lasting habitats best suited for hosting distinct plant communities.