A Tree Is Not A Shelter...

I'm always telling people to quit parking under trees around their homesites. The trees that catch my eye have obvious problems, and are disasters just waiting to happen, but sometimes a good one bites the dust, too. This big pin oak was solid, but a little twister reached down and spun the top out and dropped it right on a nice car.

There isn't any defense against tornadoes, but there is for normal storm damage. Don't plant a silver maple or red maple within 100 feet of your house! Those two species are guaranteed to drop major parts in any serious thunderstorm. Prune out branches with steep angles before they become large. Keep your trees pruned so they are balanced away from your house. Take out trees that develop root rot and other serious structural defects from wounds and rot.