What to do right after a tree falls
- Get everyone safe. If a tree is on the house, stay out of the damaged rooms. If you smell gas, leave and call 911.
- Take photos of the tree and the damage from several angles before anything is moved. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call your insurance company to start a claim if a covered structure is damaged.
- Send us an urgent request. Pick "Storm / emergency" and "Emergency" in the form and add photos if you can.
- Prevent more damage. Once the tree is off, roof openings should be tarped right away — especially with more rain coming.
Hurricane season on the Gulf Coast
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and Pensacola has seen how much damage a single storm can do. A few things that help:
- Deal with risky trees before the season. Dead trees, rotten laurel oaks and heavy limbs over the roof are far cheaper to handle in winter or spring than as an emergency.
- Don't cut a tree yourself under tension. Storm-damaged trees and limbs can be bent and loaded like springs. Spring-poles and hung-up limbs injure people every storm season.
- Watch out for storm chasers. After a big storm, out-of-town crews knock on doors. Get the price in writing and don't pay the full amount up front.
- Expect a wait after a major storm. After widespread damage, response times are longer for everyone. Trees on houses and blocked access go first.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?
Usually when a tree falls on a covered structure — the house, a garage, a fence — insurance typically helps pay to remove the tree from the structure, often up to a set limit. A tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything is often not covered. Hurricane damage may fall under a separate hurricane deductible. Every policy is different, so check yours or call your agent.
Questions about storm & emergency
Do you handle tree removal after a hurricane?
Yes. Send an urgent request with photos. After a major storm, trees on houses, blocked driveways and hazards are handled first.
Who removes a tree that falls on a power line?
The utility. Call them first and stay away. Once the line is safe, we can handle the rest of the tree.
My neighbor's tree fell on my property. Who pays?
Generally, damage to your property is handled by your own insurance, unless the tree was obviously dead or dangerous and the neighbor knew about it. Talk to your insurance company.
Can you tarp a roof?
Let us know in the request. Tree removal comes first; we can tell you what's needed for the roof once the tree is off.