While many locals may be reacting to the predicted arrival of Hurricane Sandy, also known as “Frankenstorm,” by going to grocery stores to stock up, it is equally necessary to care for the exterior of the home, most notably any trees.

“As a tree owner, along with enjoying the beauty of a tree, is assuming the risks that come from storm damage,” Daley Tree Company Arborist Chris Miller said Friday. “Hurricanes especially, along with any type of storm, can wreak havoc on our trees.”

Miller suggests that, with Sandy expected to hit the Philadelphia suburbs sometime Sunday night, it is pivotal that residents have their trees checked for symptoms that could cause harmful, even fatal damage.