Tornado Prep: Is Your Tree Ready for Joplin Storm Season?
In Joplin, we take severe weather seriously. The scars of 2011 are a permanent reminder of nature's power.
While no tree can withstand an EF-5 tornado, most storm damage in Joplin comes from straight-line winds (60-80 mph) and microbursts. In these events, healthy trees survive, and defective trees fail.
Is your yard ready for May?
The 3 Most Dangerous Defects
1. Co-Dominant Stems (The "V")
Look at your tree. Does the trunk split into two equal-sized stems that look like a "V"?
- The Risk: This is a weak point. In high winds, the stems pull apart and split down the middle.
- The Fix: We can install Cabling to hold them together, or remove the weaker stem.
2. The "Sail" Effect
If a tree is too dense, the wind can't pass through it. It acts like a sailboat sail, catching the full force of the wind until the trunk snaps.
- The Fix: Crown Thinning. We selectively remove inner branches to let the wind pass through the tree, reducing the load.
3. Deadwood (The Missiles)
Dead branches are brittle. In a storm, they snap off and become projectiles. They smash windows, dent cars, and puncture roofs.
- The Fix: A simple "Safety Prune" to remove anything dead over 2 inches in diameter.
Trees That Fail in Joplin
- Bradford Pears: They split in half. (Remove them).
- Silver Maples: They drop massive limbs.
- Green Ash: Often weakened by borers.
The "Safe Distance" Rule
If a large tree is closer to your house than its own height, it is a potential threat. We can't move the tree, but we can "Weight Reduce" the side facing the house to ensure that if it falls, it's weighted to fall away from the structure.
Don't wait for the siren. A pre-storm inspection takes 30 minutes and can save your roof.