Tree Care Industry Association Issues Guidelines for Handling Trees Damaged by Hurricane Matthew

The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) urges caution when cleaning up trees in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. This tip sheet provides guidelines for safely navigating the post-storm cleanup phase.

Hurricane Matthew devastated the Florida coast Friday. Local officials are still assessing the destruction and homeowners are contending with widespread damage, scam artists, and 1.1 million power outages. Some of these outages are attributed to falling trees, which buckled under heavy rainfall and winds and compromised power lines.

The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) urges all homeowners in affected areas to use caution during the post-storm cleanup phase. Even though the storm is over, trees can still be incredibly dangerous if they are entangled in utility lines or otherwise damaged.

TCIA recommends the following precautions to stay safe:

1. Avoid downed utility lines
   Contact with energized power lines can result in electrocution. For this reason, it is best to always assume a downed utility line is energized. Take care to avoid interacting with objects near the damaged lines, as this can result in indirect electrocution. Even tree branches are known conductors, so check the brush and foliage carefully for hidden downed lines before clearing the area. When applicable, call your local utility immediately to report the hazardous line.
2. Evaluate your damaged trees
   While most homeowners can clean up scattered branches and other tree debris with no issue, they should never consider removing a large tree or branch unassisted. Homeowners should contact a tree care professional for help in most situations, particularly if the tree work requires climbing, advanced tree removal techniques such as directional felling, or if the tree appears bent under tension or is otherwise unstable. Trees near utility lines, buildings, vehicles, shrubs and other objects should also be handled by a professional to avoid further damage.
3. Hire a professional
   For safe and efficient post-storm work, hire an arborist with the experience, expertise and equipment to safely taken down or prune damaged trees or limbs.

Homeowners looking for qualified tree care companies should:

• Be wary of tree care scammers.
  Don't just hire someone with a chain saw who knocks on the door. With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of one’s property and personal safety, it imperative to vet potential contractors before hiring.
  To report a tree care scam, call the FBI and National Center for Disaster Fraud's (NCDF) hotline at (866) 720-5721.
• Ask for current certificates of liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
  If the tree care company doesn’t have insurance or is not a legal company, the homeowner could be held responsible for accidents on the property.
• Ask for local references, and check on the quality of their work and level of service.
• Verify professional affiliations the company might have, such as memberships in business and/or professional organizations, or Accreditation with the Tree Care Industry Association.
• Insist on a signed contract as to cost, dates when work is to be performed, and exactly what is to be done.
• Get a second opinion and quote.
• An easy way to find a reputable and professional tree care company in your area is to use the "Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies" program.
  Use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP Code search on http://www.treecaretips.org.

About Tree Care Industry Association

Founded in 1938, TCIA is a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture. It has more than 1,900 member tree care companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA has the nation's only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. TCIA also has the industry's first safety certification program, Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), which credentials individual arborists for safety practices and knowledge.

Editors: If you would like additional information, storm-related articles or digital photos, please contact 1-800-733-2622 or marketing@tcia.org

TCIA arborists, safety and business professionals are also available as sources for tree related articles and issues:
Contact 1-800-733-2622 or tandersen@tcia.org