Tree Surgeons Working Overtime Ahead Of Earl

MONMOUTH COUNTY, N.J. (CBS 2) -- It would take just a few hours to tear down what it took mother nature a hundred years to grow.

When Monmouth County resident Kevin Dreyer's Mulberry tree started to crack, he knew it would be trouble and forked over nearly $2,000 to take care of the problem.

"It's better to take it out than have it hit the house and it's big enough that it definitely would have caused a lot of damage," Dreyer told CBS 2's Kirstin Cole.

Tree surgeons state-wide have been responding to problems all summer as the very hot and dry season has taken its toll on trees -- snapping limbs and making them more vulnerable to damage as wicked storms have rolled through.

The National Weather Service predicts if Hurricane Earl's wind gusts top 50 m.p.h., the area could see more uprooted or heavily damaged trees.

As soon as confirmed reports of Earl came, tree surgeons said they have not been able to keep up with the business.

The Brummer family has worked in the tree business for 40 years and says this storm will keep them busy round the clock-- both before and after.

"We've had a lot of calls of people panicked that trees were going to fall onto their homes," Keith Brummer said.

While most tree services will be working round the clock before Earl hits, most said it would be a good idea to get trees checked before the next hurricane hits.