One Way to Stay Safe in a Storm: Take Care Around Trees

One Way to Stay Safe in a Storm: Take Care Around Trees - The New York Times

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One Way to Stay Safe in a Storm: Take Care Around Trees

Roots are more likely to give way when soil is saturated and winds are high. Here’s how to protect yourself and your home.

Like homes, cars and electricity lines, trees provide vital services. But they can also be dangerous, even deadly, in storms or when they are not cared for properly.

At least two of the four people killed in the powerful storms that hit the Southeast on Tuesday were killed by falling trees. Both died while driving, when trees fell onto their cars, according to local news reports in Alabama and Georgia.

A combination of high winds and saturated soil can be especially dangerous, said Michael Musher, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Weather Service.

A tree’s roots can become less stable in soupy soil, especially if the tree is dead or unhealthy. Add high winds, and it can blow over. Falling branches are also dangerous. During storms on Tuesday, gusts of 60 miles per hour or more were common throughout much of the South and East.

How to stay safe?

“The big thing is taking shelter inside a sturdy building” Mr. Musher said. “Some people don’t have that option. If you’re in a mobile home, you might want to visit a friend.”

What about trees near homes? They provide myriad benefits— like cooling, soaking up storm water and stemming erosion — but they must be well monitored and cared for, experts say.

There are signs that can let you know when a tree is unhealthy, according to Davey Tree, a company that provides tree and shrubs services across most of the United States. For example, leaves may thin, wilt or turn color out of season. Sections of a tree may stop leafing. The soil underneath may appear cracked or heaving. The roots may look soft, mushy or black.

Arborists can evaluate trees and offer advice to homeowners regarding potential risk. The Arbor Day Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to tree planting, offers resources for finding one.

Trees can help in the fight against climate change, lowering temperatures a lifesaving 10 degrees, but they also can fall victim to it. For example, increased heat and drought can weaken trees and leave them more vulnerable to supercharged storms.

Native trees that are adapted for the conditions on your property will be more resilient, experts say. They will also help support the health of the greater ecosystem.

Catrin Einhorn covers biodiversity, climate and the environment for The Times. More about Catrin Einhorn

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