Our region just can’t seem to get a break from the weather. Today, the Atlanta bureau is in Cherokee County — a suburb just northwest of Atlanta — where heavy winds downed trees, knocked out power and damaged more than 100 homes.

The images of trees on houses and branches blocking rescue crews will, no doubt, prompt residents in other communities to chop down trees surrounding their own homes in a preemptive effort to avoid disaster in the next storm.

But experts say it’s not that simple. Trees can provide a buffer against damaging winds and their haphazard removal could actually increase the danger to homes.

But all this is of little consolation to Larry Smith, who has four trees down on his mobile home, and no insurance to help cover the repairs. Click on the video to watch my interview with him.

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