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Tree expert says after storms ‘is the time for preventative measures’

Posted at 7:38 PM, Jun 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-23 19:38:17-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va., -- After several severe storms within the past week devastated parts of Central Virginia, a tree expert warns that now is the time to take preventative measures on your property.

Lin Baker, the 62-year-old owner of Tree Notch Tree Service in Richmond, says he's received countless calls from homeowners with trees down across the area.

"If we get a bunch of rains with high winds it makes the trees more susceptible to falling over, " Baker said while on the job at Brooklyn United Methodist Church in Henrico.

Even while nearing retiring age, Baker still scales large trees and removes loose limbs. He warns the inexperienced should not attempt to the job themselves.

62 year old Lin Baker cuts trees damaged in recent severe storms.

62 year old Lin Baker cuts trees damaged in recent severe storms.

"I don’t suggest homeowners do it all," Baker said, "Unless it’s a small limb and laying down already and unless they’re familiar with a chainsaw, they need to call a professional."

Baker says an over-saturated ground and wet trees adds to the opportune time for trees to crash down during the next high winds.

At the peak of Thursday morning's storm, more than 6,000 Dominion Power customers were without power. Many of the outages were credited to trees falling down on power lines. And just a week ago, over 200,000 lost power when a front with tropical storm force winds pummeled the area.

A Dominion Power crew repairs a power line broken by a falling tree.

A Dominion Power crew repairs a power line broken by a falling tree.

The majority of the outages this time were in Henrico County and Chesterfield County.

Baker said he's noticed more maple trees have come down than any other type of tree since the first storm last Thursday.