Around this time of year, the weather starts to get a little bit more unpredictable. While we tend to expect the occasional storm and can plan around it, it’s the incidence of trees affected by prolonged periods of dryness and then hit by a storm that comes together to create disaster. If you’ve found yourself in the middle of a tree emergency, here’s how to navigate this panicky situation.
A tree emergency occurs when a tree (or the branches of a tree) that are about to, or already have fallen, create a dangerous situation for those who live in the immediate vicinity of that species. The highest incidence of tree emergencies occur during storm season and/or spontaneous bad weather. Typical examples of a tree emergency include:
- Lightning strikes that partially take down a tree or limb, leaving it suspended or having made an impact over a home or yard.
- Trees that are affected by weather conditions to a fatal extent, eg, cracked trunk, split limbs that create a hazardous environment.
- Trees affected by traffic hazards, posing an immediate danger to the public
- Trees significantly affected by pests and structurally compromised as a result, or potentially threatening to other species in immediate environment ( eg, elm leaf beetle.)
Dealing with any of these situations can cause alarm, but it is a problem that can be resolved with professional services. In the event of a tree falling on your home, the priority would be to make the area as safe as possible. Do not go near the hazardous area, even to inspect it. State Emergency Services, (SES) attend fallen trees, although it is important to know that if a storm has been particularly ruthless, it may have left quite a lot of destruction in its path, meaning SES services are tied up answering call outs, which range from critical to non-threatening.
A professional tree arborist will also be able to attend emergency call outs when possible. With many years training in the assessment of hazardous trees, a good arborist can also identify whether it is possible that a tree may be saved. Just the same, a qualified arborist can definitely tell you if a tree needs to go before an incident is likely.
Of course, good gardening practice would include regular assessment of any species likely to be affected by storm or compromising weather conditions. If you aren’t sure how to go about this, the team at Daryl’s Tree Care will be able to offer advice and support about avoiding possible hazards moving forward. This can be done in a general assessment or during a one off call out should you suspect one of your trees poses a risk to your home or may be vulnerable to storm damage. Many species are more vulnerable than others, so never assume that your trees are in good overall health, as some species like Red River Gum are known to be completely healthy while spontaneously dropping a limb.
At Daryl’s Tree Care, we are committed to ensuring a safe, healthy yard in any setting. Our professional team offer advice and support across all matters related to tree health and safety. If you would like help with your trees, speak to one of the experts at Daryl’s Tree Care today on (03) 9897 4418.
