In the aftermath of a severe storm, whether it is a hurricane or tornado, your primary focus will likely be on mending any damages to your home. However, there is another component of storm damage that will need your attention, and that is downed trees. The trees that surround your home can really take a beating during a storm. Handling the cleanup process in the proper way and restoring the environment is an important step to storm damage cleanup. Here are a few important things you need to know about downed trees after a storm sweeps through your property.

Downed debris must be handled in the proper way. 

It is not uncommon for a tree to come down during a severe storm and leave an all-out mess on your property. From broken limbs and branches to large tree trunk pieces, all of this debris will need a place to go during cleanup. If you live in a residential neighborhood, it can be difficult to get rid of the debris by burning it or piling it up at the back of your property. Contact your local solid waste management company to find out if there are places where you can take the debris in your location. Some factories take waste wood products to use in manufacturing processes. 

Downed trees can pose a safety risk on your property. 

Even if a tree is all the way on the ground, it can still be a safety hazard on your property. Therefore, it should be cleaned up right away. The broken branches can have sharp, jagged points and can pose as a trip hazard. Plus, you have to be on alert to any power lines that may have come down when the tree fell. Before you try to tackle cleanup on your own, make sure you take a look at the situation with a discerning eye and bring in professionals as needed if you are not sure about safety. 

Downed trees can leave huge gaps and ruptures in the ground. 

When you consider how much a tree can weight, it is easy to understand why a falling tree can wedge its way into the ground and cause a lot of problems. Not only are these trees hard to move, they can be wedged deep enough that they interfere with things like underground utility lines and septic systems. So if you spot a portion of a downed tree that is wedged into the ground, be cautious about trying to remove it.