While people tend to think of heat and humidity as the hallmarks of summer in the Midwest – particularly in the St. Louis area – the sun and high temperatures also bring with them another weather feature: severe storms.

Summer Storms – A Show Of Nature’s Power

Most people living in the Midwest have seen the scenario. First, days or weeks of hot, humid weather with temperatures hitting the upper 90s. Then, a cool weather system – often from the north – moves into the area as the cold front clashes with baking atmospheric conditions. The result is almost inevitable; strong winds, dropping temperatures, and then the signature, ominous “green sky” as the wind continues to rise, thunder roars, and lightning flashes, with heavy rain and, in some cases, hail coming down from above with a vengeance. 

It’s an impressive and sometimes frightening show of nature’s power.

Midwestern Summer Storms Are Destructive

The result is power outages – many caused when trees or heavy limbs fall on powerlines – damaged roofs, hail-damaged cars, flooded basements, and downed trees.

The damage can be severe and is often caused by extremely high winds, which can fall trees, even large, mature trees. And when these trees – which can weigh several thousand pounds – fall, anything they strike can be destroyed or heavily damaged. Worse, falling trees and limbs have caused more than a few severe injuries and fatalities.

Prevention Is Essential

If you have tall, mature trees on your property, having them examined and evaluated for risk assessment by a certified arborist is a smart preventive measure. A certified arborist will evaluate your trees for a number of factors that may leave them – as well as you, your family, and your property – vulnerable to severe storms. The certified arborists of Hansen’s Tree Service will examine your trees for several factors which could spell danger in a severe storm. These include:

• Diseases which may weaken limbs or the entire tree
• Structural issues, such as heavy, lengthy limbs extending horizontally from the trunk or imbalances which may cause the tree to be vulnerable to winds
• Hazardous limbs which may be weak and easily broken from the trunk
• Partially exposed root systems which may leave the tree unstable, especially if flash flooding erodes the soil around the tree’s root system

What Does Prevention Look Like?

Our certified arborists will evaluate your trees and identify any potential problems or weaknesses that could allow them to be damaged and, in turn, to be a threat to your safety or property. As part of our service, our arborist will make recommendations such as removing potentially weak limbs, treating diseases, and improving the structural integrity and balance of your trees through pruning or cabling.

The objective is to protect you, your family, your property, and your trees. Seeking experienced, professional guidance and taking smart steps to mitigate the risks of falling trees can be the difference between a storm being a spectacular show of nature or a potential disaster.

GET YOUR TREES DIAGNOSED TODAY WITH HANSEN’S TREE SERVICE

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