Hurricane Tree Prep: A Pee Dee Region Homeowner's Checklist
Hurricane season runs June through November, and in the Pee Dee Region we typically feel the effects of at least one named storm a year. Most of the property damage we see afterward isn't from the storm itself — it's from trees that should have been addressed weeks earlier.
Walk the perimeter first
Start by walking the property line. Any tree within reach of your house, garage, fence, or power lines is a tree that needs a closer look before storm season.
Look up before you look down
The biggest hazard in a Carolina storm isn't usually the whole tree falling — it's a single large limb breaking off. Look for:
- Dead branches still attached in the canopy ("widowmakers")
- Limbs hanging directly over your roof
- Co-dominant trunks with a tight V-shaped union (these split)
- Heavy one-sided branching
Schedule pruning early
Once a hurricane warning is issued, every tree service in South Carolina is booked solid. The window to safely prune, cable, or remove a problem tree is April through early June. Don't wait.
Know what's on your insurance policy
Most homeowner policies cover removal of a tree that falls on a structure — but not removal of trees that fall in the yard. Knowing this in advance saves a lot of arguing later.
Save our number now
If a tree comes down on your property during a storm, you want our number already in your phone: (843) 289-7672. We run 24/7 emergency dispatch through the entire hurricane season for Mullins, Marion, Dillon, Florence, and Horry counties.
Final tip: document your trees today
Walk the property with your phone and take a few photos of every major tree. If a storm hits, those photos are gold for your insurance claim.
Want us to do the walkthrough for you? We do free on-site storm assessments. Call (843) 289-7672.