Holiday residents are no strangers to hurricanes and the extensive damage they can cause. They also understand the grunt work that goes into post-hurricane cleanup. Sometimes, those efforts mean dealing with and removing fallen trees and similar debris.
Stevens Tree Service provides diverse tree services in Holiday, FL, including tree removal and property cleanup. We’ll outline how you should respond if a tree falls on or around your property below.
Where Did the Tree Fall?
Get an idea of how and where the tree fell before touching anything or making any calls. This brief structural damage assessment will determine how dire your situation is and whether you can safely enter the building. Why might your home or business be unsafe from a fallen tree?
We can think of a few reasons:
- Structural insecurities from blunt force and improper weight dispersion
- Gas lines exposed or punctured by uprooted trees
- Downed power lines near your property that might electrocute you
Survey the area from a safe distance before you proceed.
How to Move Forward with Hurricane Cleanup
After inventorying the tree’s direction and overall damage, you’ll have a pretty strong idea about what to do to protect yourself and who to call. Remember: even if you didn’t notice any of the above-listed threats, the dangers may persist. Always keep that in mind.
Contact Emergency Services, if Needed
If you think the tree might have disturbed an underground gas line or broken a live powerline, contact the appropriate emergency response services for hazard clearance. You can’t proceed with hurricane cleanup until professional crews mitigate those risks. Contact your gas company for fuel-related issues and your power provider for concerns about your electrical network.
Get in Touch with Your Insurance Provider
Once you have clearance to proceed, you should call your insurance provider about inventorying the damage and filing claims. Some residents might qualify for governmental assistance for their debris removal services if the fallen or damaged trees didn’t pose a threat before the hurricane. You might look into this assistance program to supplement your damage claims.
Document the Damage
You should still photograph and video the property damage, even though the insurance inspector will, too. During hurricane cleanup, take pictures of the initial damage and how it affects other areas of your home or business. For example, a fallen tree can damage the roof.
But roof damage can also lead to interior water damage. This moisture may destroy some of your belongings or appliances.
Remove Any Safely Accessible Debris
Next, see if you can handle some minor debris removal. You can absolutely wait for your emergency tree service, but the sooner you patch up your property, the more you can salvage. Move branches away from entries and exits. Clear the driveway so service vehicles can easily access your property.
Handle the Patchups
Purchase or salvage materials like:
- Tarps for covering exposed roofing or siding.
- Wooden boards to place over broken windows or doors.
- Plastic wrapping for waterproofing and protecting interior materials.
- Plastic bins for collecting and salvaging essential belongings.
These efforts can help tide you over until your repair provider gets to you.
Contact an Emergency Tree Service for Help
Finally, reach out to an emergency tree service provider like Stevens Tree Service. Our arborists can efficiently tackle tree pruning and removal, enabling repair crews to access and fix the damage. We can also help with root replanting to encourage future tree growth later.
Stevens Tree Service Can Lend a Helping Hand in Holiday, Florida
At Stevens Tree Service, hurricane cleanup is our specialty. We also excel at regrowing damaged tree roots to enhance your property without fresh transplants. Call 727-734-TREE (8733) for debris removal in Holiday, Florida.