Hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning and other severe summer weather takes its toll on trees, which then need maintenance but can present numerous dangers according to the Tree Care Industry Association.

With the first hurricane to affect the U.S. in 2014 already in the books, does it portend an active season?
Arthur, a Category 2 storm, reached wind speeds of 100 mph before passing over the Outer Banks with few problems reported.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this year's season (June 1 – Nov. 30) has a 50 percent chance of being below normal, due in large part to the effects of El Niño.

The Farmers' Almanac predicted three possible tropical storms from July to October. The first was forecast for July near or along the Atlantic Seaboard, which gives the publication a batting average of 1,000. The second is predicted to occur in September in New England, and the third in October in the Gulf of Mexico or possibly the East Coast.

Regardless of the number of hurricanes, other major storms have already and will continue to damage the landscape. If you are called out to do post-storm tree cleanup, the Tree Care Industry Association offers these safety tips:

Torn limbs hanging in electrical wires make it more dangerous to cut downed limbs underneath them.

Fallen trees under tension (one or both ends pinned under other branches or debris) can have different types of binds at different places, and releasing that tension with chain saw cuts can cause serious, even fatal injuries.

Cutting the trunk of a fallen tree from an uprooted plate could cause anchored roots to pull the root ball or root plate back into the root hole, trapping anything nearby underneath it.

To minimize emergency response times, always have at least one other person working with you.