Chris Francis Tree Care

10/15/2026

Great turn-out at the AUFA (Alabama Urban Forestry Association) Annual Conference in Orange Beach Alabama

10/14/2026

Pesticide class in Orange Beach

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Doesn't look bad, unless you're the one trying to get out of your driveway...

10/10/2026

Tree on your house? No problem!
Call 251-367-8733

10/10/2026

Emergency crews rolling out

10/10/2026

We are here for you. Tree emergency? Call 251-367-8733. Don't take chances. Call Chris Francis.

10/09/2026

It looks like this storm will hit well to the east of us, but we are still getting wind and rain. Hopefully we all pull through unscathed, but we are here if you need us. Call 251-367-8733. We learned many lessons from Hurricane Sally and other storms, so we are much better prepared.

10/08/2026

When should you be scared of a tree during a storm?

We speak in terms of risk, so there is no numerical system (1-10) or a classification as dangerous or safe. There is no such situation as zero risk, but there are situations that increase your risk.

First, we look at Target (not the store). Targets are anything a tree or tree part could hit or affect. This may be a person, a vehicle, a house, a piece of equipment, etc... Anything can be a target. Some are more valuable than others. Some targets can be moved, such as a vehicle or a picnic table. Others are stationary, like a house.

Next, we look at the tree for conditions of failure, which may be dead limbs, bark inclusion (2 or more trees, trunks, or branches in close proximity - they push apart), cut roots (roots are very shallow), soggy soil, overextended branches, internal decay, etc... We won't have time to inspect your trees before a storm, so we want you to be able to recognize common defects and likelihood of failure, combined with the size of the tree part(s). If you have any of these defects, you may not be able to move your house, but you can move your mobile property and your selves. Some structures provide great protection from tree failures; others not so much.

We look at likelihood of impact. Will the tree or tree part hit the target? Normal weather would include targets within reasonable striking distance based on the length of the tree or part. In extreme weather, wind could carry trees for a great distance before striking a target. You cannot predict prevailing wind direction; please don't make that mistake.

Then we look at the consequences of damage: if the tree or tree part strikes the target, what damage would occur? This ranges from a scratch, an inconvenience, a broken bone, a damaged roof, all the way to a flattened house or death.

Ultimately, we combine the matrices of likelihood of failure, impact, and consequences to arrive at a risk rating. That being said, we generally do not assess trees for extreme weather (hurricane, tornado, earthquake, tsunami, etc...) because of the unpredictability. But the same process can be used to determine your own risk levels. You get to decide what level of risk you are comfortable with.

If the risk exceeds your level of comfort, seek shelter somewhere else or move your property if possible. If a tree fails and hits you, it will be uncomfortable to say the least. If it hits your property, there is little you can safely do until the storm passes. Don't become a victim.