Job Spotlight: Emergency Services

This month, we want to shine a spotlight on an emergency job completed recently for a customer in Athens. After a brutal storm, this lovely pine tree failed and crashed into this customer’s home. While the large hole in the roof needs to be repaired, the more pressing issue is getting the tree off the roof and onto the ground safely.

Classic City Arborists to the Rescue

For this particular tree removal we rented a 50-ton crane from a local rental company called Northeast Georgia Crane (thanks, guys!), to pick the pieces off the home as we cut them and lay them gently on the ground. Considering that each piece weighed between 1500 and 2500 pounds, this was the safest option for this particular job.

To start, Scott first used our lift to bring him up and over the house, close enough to access the tree. He then took the crane rigging strap (the big thing that hangs down from the crane) and attached it to the upper portion of the tree. Once secured, Scott used a chainsaw to sever the top half from the main trunk, where it was then lowered slowly and gently to the ground, far away from the house. ​

Our workers then cut the top-portion into more manageable-sized chunks by removing individual limbs and breaking up the main pole. Using out Miniature Skid Steer, these limbs and chunks were hauled a few at a time out of the customer’s yard all the way to our Chipper Truck, where they were promptly mulched. ​

That done, Scott next focused on the rest of the tree, which still leaned against the house. He again used the lift to get close enough to the trunk to secure it to the crane rigging strap, and then used the crane to very carefully pull the trunk away from the house and lower it to the ground. From there, it received the same treatment as the top section of the tree; our workers cut it up, hauled it off, and mulched it down.

After all that work was done, we went through and cleared off debris from both the roof and area surrounding the house until it was spotless. For good measure, we also tarped over the hole in the roof to prevent further damage to the home and reduce the risk for injury until the customer was able to get a roofing company to come out and repair it.

​​And then we were done! The tree was gone, the remains mulched, and the tree debris around the site cleared. This was not our first emergency job, and it certainly won’t be our last; situations like this one are precarious at best and disastrous at worst, and we at Classic City Arborists are proud to offer emergency services to put you at the front of our schedule, giving you priority over non-emergency jobs, and eliminating the danger as quickly as possible.

​While we love living in Georgia (especially the Athens area), our beloved Peach State comes with pretty frequent severe weather. We get our fair share of thunderstorms, high winds, lightning strikes, and sometimes, even tornadoes; any one of these can easily uproot or displace any trees already experiencing signs of failure, and can even cause a perfectly healthy tree to fail. And with summer right around the corner, those summer storms are quickly approaching, and any trees on your property and around your home are at risk.

So What Can You Do?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to completely eliminate the chance of an emergency tree fail, as perfectly healthy and stable trees are still at risk during inclement weather. But you can reduce the threat potential in a few different ways. Trees with pre-existing damage or failing health are more likely to succumb to a storm; keep your eyes out for any of these 5 Simple Signs of Decay, and call in a certified arborist if you suspect one of your trees may be failing.

​You can also have a Tree Risk Assessment completed on your property, which involves a certified arborist examining every tree in your yard, identifying which trees present high levels of risk, and preparing a plan for mitigating that risk.

If you’d like to start on a prevention plan for staying safe this summer, fill out our Contact Form today!

What Happens if a Tree Falls on My House?

If a tree falls onto your house (or garage, or back porch, or car, or even your shed), the first thing to do is evacuate! Call emergency services if anyone has been injured, or if any power or utility lines have been impacted.

Once everyone is safe, you’ll want to assess and document the damage. Insurance companies often require a lot of physical evidence, and may even require an agent to come out to your home to estimate the damage themselves. Even if they don’t, be sure to contact them, because there might be procedures to follow, or certain repair companies they want you to use, etc.

Once you have the all-clear from the insurance company, it’s time to call your friendly neighborhood arborist   to have the tree removed safely.

What Do I Look for in an Arborist?

At Classic City Arborists, we are always excited to work with our customers, but understand that we might not always be the best choice for every individual. We do, however, highly recommend  verifying that the tree service company chosen is Licensed and Insured. It is also very prudent to utilize a Certified Arborist, especially in an emergency situation.

To check that they are licensed, you can request a copy of the company’s business license, or you can verify with the local county tax commissioner’s office.

To check that they are insured, you can request a copy of their Certificate of Insurance and check their liability amounts, as well as their worker’s compensation coverage. This protects both you and the company you work with should any further damage occur during removal.

To check that they are a certified arborist, you can search for the individual’s name in the Trees Are Good database. This means your arborist has spent time learning, honing their skill, and proving their knowledge in arboriculture. It also means they fulfill yearly requirements to stay up-to-date on the latest and most effective arboreal practices.

Regardless of whether or not you choose to work with us or not for an emergency situation (or any of your tree service needs), we hope that you (and your trees) stay happy, healthy, and safe in the coming summer!

Author

Emily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.