08/28/2026
STORM DAMAGE — PLEASE BE CAREFUL DURING CLEANUP.
Seriously. No really, seriously.
This is not a solicitation for work. We just want people to be careful after the storm that came through our area last night.
BE AWARE OF STORM-DAMAGE SCAMS.
When everybody needs help at once, scammers know it too.
Do not pay a job in full before the work is completed.
Be extremely cautious about handing a large deposit to someone you don't know simply because they promise to “put you at the top of the list.”
Ask who they are. Ask for proof of insurance. Get their information. A legitimate company shouldn't have a problem answering reasonable questions.
Being booked until next week doesn't make someone unreliable. During a major storm, sometimes an honest “I can't get there until Tuesday” is worth a lot more than “I'll be there in an hour” from somebody who never comes back.
A DOWNED TREE IS NOT NECESSARILY A SAFE TREE.
Storm-damaged trees can contain enormous amounts of stored energy.
Limbs and trunks can be loaded under tension and compression. Root plates can shift. Bent limbs can snap back. Split or partially failed trees can roll, kick, twist or release unexpectedly.
And if you don't know what terms like tension, compression, snap-back or barber-chair mean, a storm-damaged tree is probably not the place to learn them with a chainsaw in your hands!
NEVER ASSUME A POWER LINE IS DEAD!!
The power being out does NOT mean the line is safe.
Electrical lines can become energized again without warning including through generator backfeed. Electricity can also energize trees, fences and other objects contacting a damaged conductor.
If a tree is involved with a power line, stay away and call the utility.
IF YOU NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE, ASK QUESTIONS.
You don't have to hire the biggest tree company in town.
There are excellent small companies and independent operators out there.
But ask:
• Are you insured? Can I see proof? Who is your agent?
• Do you have experience with storm-damaged trees?
• How are you going to control the tree when you cut it?
• Do you have the equipment necessary if the situation changes?
• If my home is damaged, can you provide documentation and work with my insurance company?
• Do you provide written proposals/estimates?
There is a huge difference between cutting a tree and controlling a tree.
After a storm, that difference matters.
If you already have somebody you trust, use them. If you don't, ask around, ask questions and don't let the urgency of the situation pressure you into a decision you're uncomfortable with.
Nobody needs to get hurt or taken advantage of because they're in a hurry.
Stay safe out there.
