A lightning strike destroyed two large trees 50 feet from our house and fried our internet modem on Sunday. Pieces of the tree, weighing 50 pounds, were found 25 feet from the trunk, and that piece in my hand was found 75 feet from the center of the strike. Truly awesome. And scary. I did not move the sheep in their electric net fencing that night. They might never get moved again on stormy days.
When life gives you splintered trees, build a split rail fence.
We had a large tree come down just southwest of our house in May after what looked like a twister. Mother nature is not gentle. 
Laughing Frog Farm 