When powerful storms roll through metro Atlanta, the instant boom of a falling tree can be disastrous. Power lines, cars and even people are vulnerable when trees tumble.
"In any given storm, trees are one of the leading causes of the outages," Carol Boatright, Georgia Power spokeswoman, told the AJC.
Many experts say that drought conditions in recent years have weakened the root system of many trees, making them unable to sustain the force of strong winds. But surveying trees ahead of time can help get rid of potential problems before the next thunderstorm.
Atlanta resident Tanya Entzian was running errands Wednesday evening when seemingly out of nowhere, her Mini Cooper was struck by a large oak tree. Entzian told the AJC she was able to climb out of the car in the pouring rain and walk for help. She sustained a concussion and sprained neck, but says her car may be wrecked beyond repair.
"It looked like the car had been engulfed in a tree house," Entzian said.
To make matters worse, Entzian said a neighbor's tree landed in her Collier Hills yard when it fell during the storm. Two falling trees in one day created more than enough mess.
In late May, three people in the metro area were killed by falling trees during a storm. Dozens of other people have experienced trees falling into homes or across roadways during the height of storms.
Wednesday night's storms brought winds topping 60 mph, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brad Nitz said. Weakened trees simply can't withstand those conditions, even with the spring rainstorms, experts said.
“When we have a number of months of drought, what happens is the tree roots will start to die back," Joe Burgess with the Georgia Forestry Commission told the AJC. "That makes the tree less vital."
Drought conditions have been common in recent summers in Georgia. So far this year, conditions aren't as dry as in years past. And the recent spring thunderstorms have even managed to contribute to the problem.
“The new growth from the spring is like having a sail on a sailboat that’s too big," Burgess said.
Atlanta arborist Jesse Milton said the drought is often used as an excuse for weakened trees, but most trees that topple during storms had problems long before the first drop of rain.
"The trees that are falling now are falling from decay," Milton said.
Milton and other tree experts said many homeowners can do a better job taking care of trees to prevent problems when storms hit. Enlisting the help of a certified arborist can help homeowners assess trees for possible damage.
"Most folks walk in their yard and never look up at their trees," said Patrick Mawhinney, president of the Georgia Arborist Association.
After years of drought, and then the flooding of 2009, trees have a difficult time maintaining a balance for healthy growth, Mawhinney said.
"These trees just begin to deteriorate internally," he said.
Mawhinney advises giving trees up to an inch of water weekly, if possible. And don't overlook the older trees, as many people do, he said.
"The bigger the plant, the more water it needs," Mawhinney said.
And Entzian, who soon may be shopping for a car, urges caution for anyone thinking they can get out of the way of a falling tree.
"Nature is always going to be smarter than a man-built world," she said.
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