According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, September is the most common month for hurricanes to make U.S. landfall. But severe storms and tornadoes appear around the country in early summer, so it is important to take steps now to be prepared for storm season.

Long Islanders know how severe hurricanes and summer storms can damage trees in your yard. High winds, rain, and lightning can cause problems to even the healthiest trees. With proper care and maintenance, you can sleep soundly at night, knowing that your trees are in a safe condition and strong enough to withstand a storm. We can clean up the messes left behind from storms, but we can also assist you in preparing for those situations.

Before storm season hits, Long Island Lumberjack can analyze your yard. We will ensure there are no cracked tree trunks or limbs, hollow or decayed trees, or anything near the roof of your house or power lines that could fall and cause damage. After taking care of those issues before a storm, your yard will be safer when the bad weather strikes.

Storm Checklist

Before storm season begins, it’s a good idea to walk around your yard and pay close attention to your trees and landscaping. Some things to look out for include:

• Dead or Dying Trees
• Trees with Dense Canopies
• Trees with Weak Limbs
• Newly Planted or Young Trees
• Trees with Split Trunks
• Trees with Lightning or Pest Damage

If you notice any of these issues, it’s essential to have a professional tree service come out and inspect your property immediately. We’ll take the time to trim excess branches and thin dense trees and remove any landscaping that may be at risk of damaging your home or those nearby.

One of the biggest threats during any storm is tree damage.

A tree might seem like it could sustain the forces of a large storm. Still, whether unseen internal damage, wet, unstable ground or proximity to power lines, trees are vulnerable during severe storms and can present a significant hazard. The following tips can help protect yourself, your family, and your property from a storm.

Conduct a pre-storm assessment and identify trouble spots

A pre-storm assessment can help you identify potential hazards on your property, such as cracks in tree trunks or major limbs, hollow or decayed trees, limbs extending over a roof, or trees near power lines.

Take measures to prevent damage.

After assessing possible hazards to your property,

• Consider measures to limit potential damage.
• Remove dead, diseased, or damaged limbs.
• Inspect leaning trees and consider removing those with large cavities.
• Prune branches that are too close to your house and over the street.
• Check your gutters, and remove any debris to prevent water damage.
• For any work in and around your home, consider calling a professional.
• Always reach out to a professional to assess and remove anything near utility lines.

Never attempt to do this yourself.

After The Storm

More people incur injuries after a storm than during one. Storm-damaged trees present unique challenges and dangers. Put safety first. Evaluate what you can handle and what’s for a professional — a professional should take anything, not on the ground. Some things could threaten your life, such as large broken or hanging limbs where chainsaw work is needed or branches too close to a utility line. Never approach or attempt to move downed utility lines and report limbs close to or touching utility lines immediately.

Always wear proper attire and protective equipment if you’re skilled enough to do the work yourself. This protective attire includes boots, gloves, glasses, chainsaw protective pants, a helmet system, and hearing protection. Never operate a chainsaw from a ladder, roof, in a tree, or while standing on any other insecure surface — leave these jobs for the pros.

Evaluate damage

Following a storm, we can attend to emergencies like fallen trees, large branches on the ground, broken branches, and hanging limbs. Our emergency services are available 24/7, so we can help you when disasters happen.

The National Storm Damage Center estimates that falling trees and broken branches cause over $1 million in property damage yearly. Although there is no “hurricane-proof” solution for your yard, there are things you can do right now to minimize your risk.

You may not have to remove a storm-damaged tree. Inspect your trees to see if they’re healthy despite storm damage. If at least 50% of the tree’s crown is still intact, and the remaining branches can form a new branch structure, then there is a good chance you can save the tree.

Repair minor damage & debris

Remove any broken branches, stubs, or jagged remains of limbs. You should prune smaller branches at the point where they join larger ones. Don’t worry if the tree’s appearance is not perfect.

It’s important to have an assessment done before storms hit. Call Long Island Lumberjack at (631) 212-8250 to schedule a walk-through of your property. Our professionals will be able to set your mind at ease that your trees are as safe as possible for the coming season.