Please help. I know so very little abt oak trees. I have one in my yard. The trunk is about 40 inches in diameter, branch span about 45 feet on all sides. Several people have told me it is about 400 years old, but when Hugo came thru WV years ago, lightening struck the tree. It has a raw place about 3 feet by 2 feet. In the past years (close to 20) the wound has started to close and has been reduced by several inches. The tree has several dead limbs but I am considering cutting the whole tree for fear of it dying and hitting my house. All of the older people who see it says that oak trees rot from the inside and I won't know its rotten until it falls. Does anyone know what I should look for in making my decision?