Storm Damage
You may be reacting to tree damage or thinking about ways to prevent it. Either way, below are a few tips.
Have an arborist assess your trees. Even perfectly healthy trees can be of poor structure. An arborist is trained to recognize these structural issues and calculate the risk.
Remove dead trees.
Understand the history of your property. Perhaps your tree or trees have been dependent on a “stand” of preexisting trees and have not adapted to be a “stand alone” tree. These trees are highly susceptible to failure during storms. Also, has there been any digging (septic, foundation repair, patios) on your property that may have removed structural roots? Has there been a change in grade at your or your neighbor’s property that would affect drainage or water flow?
Pruning has been proven as an effective method of risk mitigation. Crown thinning or reduction, removal of dead and decayed limbs, or cabling and bracing.
Talk to your neighbors. Maybe you have trees that threaten their property or vice versa. Either way, it never hurts to build a positive relationship with your neighbor.