While trees can be beautiful, in certain situations, they can also be deadly. For example, large limbs, and perhaps even the entire trunk, can come crashing down. This is what is known as a tree emergency. Knowing how to handle a tree emergency and prevent one from happening is important for any homeowner.
Signs That a Tree Emergency Is Imminent
Preventing a tree emergency from happening, or at least being prepared for one, requires being able to detect the signs that such a catastrophe is imminent. Signs to look out for include:
- Bent or leaning tree
- Broken branches or limbs
- Cracks in the trunk
- Dead branches
- Discoloration
- Fungal growth
- Insect infestation
- Trunk hollowness
All of these are signs that a tree is failing. In that case, all it may take to bring part or all of that tree down is a significant windstorm. Watch the weather, and stay away from that tree during the storm.
Being Aware of the Danger of a Failing Tree
An impending tree emergency is no laughing matter. A tree emergency can be extremely dangerous and quite expensive to deal with. This includes risk of:
- Death
- Injuries
- Home damage
- Litigation risk
- Property damage
People die from tree-related accidents every year. This includes accidents caused by the wind. Also, be aware of the fact that a failing tree near your home could very well come down on top of your house. If not your house, your car or other property could be damaged. The potential hazards can be extremely serious.
Removing the Danger
In many cases, it’s only a matter of time before a failing tree comes down. All it usually takes is a day of bad weather. Strong winds can certainly bring down any tree that is sick or that has developed structural problems. The question is whether to wait until the tree emergency happens or have the tree taken down prematurely before the emergency actually occurs.
In most cases, the answer is obvious. A sick or failing tree should be removed early to remove the hazard entirely. This way no person or property will be harmed when it does come down. However, never do this job yourself. Taking down a tree is meticulous work that should only be handled by professionals. Doing it yourself could be putting your life at risk. A simple accident when removing a tree can certainly cause death or permanent injury.
If you live in or near Princeton, NJ and need to deal with a tree emergency, hire our company, Princeton Tree Care, for the work. We have been serving the community for almost 20 years and have the knowledge and expertise to remove any problem tree from your property quickly and safely.