The Dangers Of DIY When There Is A Tree Emergency
On Monday, October 24, 2005, Hurricane Wilma hit Fort Lauderdale with very strong winds and heavy rainfall. The aftermath could only be described as catastrophic. The saddest part of it is that 25 people were killed by the hurricane and 3.2 million people were left in darkness. In total, 6 million people were affected in one way or the other.
The hurricane destroyed both residential and commercial buildings. Also, trees were damaged, with some falling on homes. Worse still, in many areas, power lines had fallen across roads. Emergency services had to be engaged to deal with all this. In this post, you will see why it is wise to let professionals intervene in any kind of emergency situation. In particular, emergency tree work is best handled by the experts instead of homeowners going on a DIY adventure.
What is a tree emergency and who pays for it?
A tree emergency is any unforeseen event involving your trees that causes harm. Additionally, if it is not attended to, it may become a safety hazard to you and your loved ones or even to a passerby. A perfect example of this is when there is a storm and tree branches fall on a power line. That is a dangerous event and should be handled with utmost care.
What Is Considered A Tree Emergency?
When tree limbs or entire trees fall on a property or electrical lines, they cause a tree emergency. Electricity may still be carried by downed power lines and fallen trees, jeopardizing the structural integrity of your home. Any fallen tree emergency should be avoided since they are usually unstable.
Will Insurance Companies Pay For Tree Removal?
The majority of homeowner’s insurance policies cover both tree removal and damage caused by a falling tree. Most policies cover all tree damage, even if the tree doesn’t completely fall but instead scratches or dents something. Read more from Monster Tree Service…
What are the dangers involved with DIY-ing in emergency tree situations?
In the case mentioned above of tree branches falling on a power line, the risk involved in this is electrocution if as a novice you attempt to deal with the problem. If you do not have the proper tools to do the work you will end up making the situation worse. And in case you injure yourself, you risk spending more on healthcare for an issue that could have been sorted out by a professional for way less.
Tree removal can result in damage to your property or vehicle. If a tree falls on your home or car during a DIY removal then your insurance provider may not cover it. A branch or tree landing on power lines will likely cause a neighbourhood wide blackout and cut off essential services.
If attempting a tree removal yourself, debris of fallen tree material may land on a neighbours property or home. This will likely make you pretty unpopular with your neighbours and will cause additional work for yourself as you’ll need to remove the debris. Read more from Jim’s Trees…
What should I do then when there is an emergency?
After seeing the dangers of DIY when it comes to tree emergency situations, what’s the best move? As a responsible homeowner, when a tree falls on your property or on a live wire near your house, don’t attempt to remove it. Leave that to the professionals who have the tools and the experience to handle the situation.
If a tree has suddenly moved and is leaning over close to a house or other property, call an Arborist straight away. The tree could imminently fall over and cause untold damage so don’t delay. This could be as a result of strong winds, a lightning strike or sickness.
If you find yourself in one of these situations, the message is very clear – do not attempt to remove the tree yourself, and don’t delay. Not doing so puts you and your family’s lives at risk, not to mention potential untold damage. If you are at all unsure, there’s no harm in making the call and having your tree assessed. Arborists are the professionals at all things trees and have the required skill and knowledge to safely and effectively remove a tree in dangerous situations. They also have the right tools and equipment to carry out the job. Read more from Aussie Tree Solutions…
In Fort Lauderdale, you can contact EPS Landscaping and Tree Services company for all your emergency tree removal needs. We have the tools and the workforce to help make your home safe again. Call us today!
Published Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:58:18 -0600
Comments are closed.