Now that the wind is getting stronger, here’s what you can do to prevent an accident

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – Strong winds continue to blow through the valley Friday, with gusts near 50 miles per hour, causing damage in neighborhoods.

Power outages, debris scattered across the streets and even fallen trees have created a serious mess, leaving fellow residents to clean up the pieces.

I wanted to reach out to residents and see what solutions can be found as the windy weather increases in the coming weeks.

Local valley resident Joe Turley in downtown Las Vegas showed me how the wind affected him after a tree fell onto the road near his house. The gusts were even strong enough to knock out power lines.

“I’ve seen winds like this before, but not this early in the year,” Turley said.​

He told me he is lucky to have a friend who can help remove the tree and clear the road, as hiring a tree service can get quite pricey.

Abel: If you had to call a tree service company to help you with this, how much would you spend?​

“At least $2,000 to $3,000 to cover all of this,” Turley said.

With branches scattered across roads and sidewalks, the cleanup is far from over.​
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I contacted a tree service company and they told me the valley needed to prepare for more storms like this. They said dry conditions this year have made trees easier to uproot during high winds.
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“It came out of nowhere, I got out late last night and saw the wind, and it wasn’t right. 50-year-old pine tree… you think it’s deep in the ground, but it’s forested,” Turley said.
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​If you are a homeowner, make sure your tree is pruned and properly maintained to prevent these types of accidents. Overgrown or weak trees are much more likely to fall during storms.

Abel: Were you shocked that this happened to you?”
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“Very shocked, you hear it all the time and you think my tree is strong, but no. Everyone is susceptible to this,” Turley said.