What was that?
Why is there a hole in my roof?
And why am I covered in branches?
They're beautiful.
They provide oxygen,
and trees remove some harmful gases.
But they can also be dangerous.
Do you know that you're more likely to be
killed by a falling tree than by sharks?
It's true.
Falling trees kill more than
100 people each year,
but sharks only kill about seven people.
Usually, there are warning signs
before a tree falls.
If the tree is extremely hunched over,
it could be due to root damage.
So, check for exposed roots,
and cracked and heaving soil.
And trees with U or V-shaped trunks
are more susceptible to falling,
as they tend to have more weak points.
This also makes them more likely
to be hurt by storms.
But severe wind, ice, or rainstorms
can make a tree fall over without warning.
Always inspect trees after storms
and between seasons.
Don't try to remove a tree yourself.
And don't ask your
"lawn guy" to remove it either.
Matt Bieniek of Houston, Texas,
got a much lower price quote from his
lawn guy than from professionals.
So he gave his lawn guy the job
of removing a dead 15 m (50 ft) pine tree.
When Bienick returned from work,
the tree had fallen on his house,
causing $60,000 of damage.
Always get professionals
to remove trees from your yard.
A tree crashing on your house
could be dangerous.
Have a detailed evacuation plan,
including the quickest exits,
a safe place to meet outside,
and a friend or family member you can
call during a disaster.
And keep a "go bag"
packed with emergency supplies,
important documents,
car keys,
cash,
flashlights,
and any medications you need.
Call the emergency services.
After they arrive,
call your insurance company.
It can begin looking for a contractor
to fix your home
while you make sure everyone is safe.
In January 2021,
Canadian Pamala DeRosa
heard a loud bang.
Her intuition told her to
get out of the house.
And fortunately,
she got out of bed and headed outside.
Just a minute after she left,
she saw a tree crash through powerlines
and land right on her bedroom.
If a tree falls and you're trapped
underneath it,
conserve your energy
and focus on controlling your breathing.
And if you can,
lie in the recovery position
to keep your airways open,
and stop you from
choking on vomit or fluid.
To do this,
lie on your side
with your arm under your neck,
and your knees tucked in.
Wait for emergency services to arrive,
then call out,
or use your foot to tap on something.
This will make it easier
for rescuers to find you.
You survived,
but now you see what caused
the tree to fall in the first place.
It's a mega tornado.
Think you can get out of this alive?