Even before Hermine became a hurricane, a massive tree branch had crashed down into a home in Seminole Heights in Tampa.
Thankfully, all seven people inside escaped unharmed, but neighbors tell ABC Action News that there were warning signs ahead of time.
Other big branches from the same tree had also fallen recently, and tree trimmers say that usually means there’s more danger to come.
“It’ll look healthy on the outside, and you would never think. But it’s no good in the center,” explains Devin Wilson.
Wilson runs his family’s tree trimming business, Dwayne Wilson Tree Services, in Tampa.
Even when there’s little wind, says Wilson, just a lot of rain can ruin a tree.
“A lot of times you get a ‘V’ in a tree, and it collects water down in the ‘V’” explains Wilson. “Eventually over time the water rots the center of the tree out.
After that, a lot more rain can weigh down a branch until it falls.
And just because the tree has rot doesn’t mean it is dead.
“So if you get a big storm like this that comes through and you’ve had a cavity over time sitting there like that, it’ll sit down in that water and you get that high wind it’ll eventually bust the tree.”
Other signs of trouble include tree branch discoloration, and mushrooms and other things growing near the base of a tree.
Wilson says sometimes branches will come down days after a storm, so he recommends having a tree trimming come out and take a look. They’ll almost always give you an estimate free of charge. And it could save you a lot of money if it prevents the tree from falling on a car or home.
You can contact Dwayne Wilson Tree Services by calling 813-215-1803.
