How to Assess and Address Tree Hazards if You Have Storm Damage

When a storm sweeps through your neighborhood, damaged trees can quickly become a concern. You'll need to be on the lookout for falling branches, leaning trunks, and other hazards posed by trees that could threaten your property and jeopardize your safety. Do you know what to do to protect your home, family, and landscape if you have damaged trees? Paul & Son LLC offers some advice to assess and address tree hazards, helping you to understand and manage storm-damaged trees.

Assess the Damage

Before you can take any action, the first thing you should do after a storm is a visual inspection. You should be looking for signs of damage such as broken or hanging limbs, cracks or splits in the main trunk, leaning or fallen trees, or damage to the tree's canopy, which is the upper portion of the tree. This will allow you to assess the damage, but should be done from a safe distance as approaching damaged trees could put you at risk of branches or limbs falling and landing on you.

Evaluate Potential Hazards

To figure out what tree service you might need, you need to determine whether or not a tree is dangerous. This lets you know if a tree poses an immediate threat. Dangerous trees are those with weakened structural stability, dead or diseased areas, proximity to high-traffic areas, and a potential to fall and impact other trees. If hazards are present, prioritize addressing these trees first.

Decide Between DIY and Professional Help

Take a look at what needs to be addressed to figure out which cleanup jobs you can handle on your own and which require the help of a trained tree service professional. You may be able to collect small, fallen branches from the ground and snip minor limbs less than two inches thick using pruning shears. Contact a certified arborist if you have large branches that are hanging precariously, a tree that is leaning or about to fall over, or there are power lines involved. Attempting to address these issues without adequate knowledge or equipment can be dangerous.

Hiring a Qualified aRBORIST

Make sure you find and hire a tree service professional to ensure your storm damage cleanup job is done safely and correctly. Search for arborists that are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or similar organizations. You can request references or reviews from past clients to ensure they are experienced in storm-related tree care. Verify that the company is fully insured to cover any accidental property damage or injuries that make occur during a tree service job. You can ask about the company's experience with storm-damaged trees and if they can provide a written estimate. Be wary of anyone offering unusually low prices or who knocks on your door unsolicited after a storm.

Prevent Future Damage

Once the immediate danger is addressed, take proactive steps to strengthen your trees against future storms. Schedule regular maintenance for your trees, such as tree trimming to remove deadwood and excess limbs. Cabling or bracing systems can be installed by tree service professionals to support trees with structural issues. You should also be proactive about inspecting trees after every storm in the future to detect small problems before they become huge issues.

Ensure Your Safety with Help from Paul & Son LLC

Take the time to make sure your property and family are safe following a storm. Taking a little bit of time to assess your trees and address hazards will prevent accidents on your property and benefit you in the long run. You can handle the simple clean-up tasks yourself and call a tree service expert like Paul & Son LLC for help with more complex situations.

Our tree service can help you maintain your trees year-round and prepare for future storms, which are inevitable in North Carolina. Preparing for future storms can reduce the likelihood of damage in the first place. Be prepared if a storm does strike in the future and have a plan for what exactly to do with your trees. Contact Paul & Son LLC today for tree service in Fayetteville, NC; Hope Mills, NC; and Raeford, NC.