Protect Your Home During Tropical Storms By Doing One Essential Maintenance Task

If you live in the Southern Coastal region of the U.S., you're no stranger to tropical storms. Chances are, you have a plan ready to go as soon as you hear about a tropical depression on your local weather channel. Stocking up on water, food, batteries, and other storm essentials is likely second nature. But have you thought about storm-proofing your yard? One of the most effective ways to protect your home and family before storm season is through yard maintenance. Trimming your trees is particularly important. If you don't take care of this task before a storm, you'll learn quickly who is responsible for storm damage tree removal in your area.

Homeowners always question what they should or shouldn't do during a storm once fall rolls around. Some people wonder: Is it safe to shower during a storm? Others want to know: Should you run your AC during a storm? Few residents stop to ask what they should be doing around their yard before a storm arrives. That's why trimming trees is an often overlooked task. It's also a chore most homeowners regret skipping once the winds die down and a tree is lying across their roof. Leaving trees unpruned risks falling limbs that can damage your home, cars, or nearby vital utilities such as power lines, which can cause outages.

Many times, there isn't much warning for a tropical storm as it can be difficult to predict its path. That's why it's a good idea to consider tree maintenance as part of your storm season preparation. Start by inspecting the trees close to your home, ideally during their dormant season or in early spring before hurricanes are likely to appear. This is the best time to prune your trees, too. If it is within your budget, ask an arborist to come out to your property to conduct an inspection. Remove any dead or dying branches from trees, especially any that overhang your roof, driveway, or nearby power lines. Weak, diseased, or dying trees should be removed, since they are likely to fall over during high winds.

If your trees are large or you don't have the proper equipment to do the removal yourself, call a tree trimming service. Calling a professional is worth the investment when repair bills could be more expensive than their fees. Professional tree removers will also be able to spot problems you may have missed. Tree removal costs range from $200 to $2,000, while damages to your home from a tree falling may start in the thousands. If you have to replace your roof, your bill could run into the tens of thousands. Your local utility company is responsible for trimming or removing trees where they interfere with or pose a danger to power lines. No matter which approach you choose, it's best to take preventive measures before storm season starts.