Emergency Storm Tree Removal in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Emergency storm tree removal in Fort Lauderdale is mostly about uprooted trees, not just broken branches. Shallow roots in wet, sandy ground mean a tropical storm or hurricane often tips whole trees over, root plate and all, onto roofs, pool enclosures, cars and fences. After Hurricane Wilma in October 2005, when the National Weather Service measured a 99 mph gust in Fort Lauderdale, it described large trees and power lines down virtually everywhere in South Florida. Even a summer thunderstorm can drop a top-heavy ficus or a weak queen palm.

First, stay safe

Assume any downed wire is live. Florida Power & Light asks everyone to stay at least 10 feet from lines and to leave work near them to line-clearing crews; report a tree on a line to FPL at 1-800-226-3545. If a tree has come through the roof, get everyone out of that part of the house. Do not try to cut a trunk that is bent under tension or still hung up in another tree. Those cuts are where most chainsaw injuries happen.

How we handle storm calls

After a big storm, calls come in faster than anyone can answer them. We sort them by danger: a tree through a roof or blocking the only door comes before a tree lying across a lawn. You can call any time to leave your address and a description of what is down, and we will call back to set a time. Once on site, we take the weight off the house first, lifting or lowering the trunk off the roof in sections so the damage does not get worse, then deal with the rest of the tree and the cleanup.

Insurance and paperwork

Photograph the tree and the damage from several angles before any cutting starts. Many homeowner policies help with removal when a tree damages a covered structure, often with a limit per tree; HomeGuide cites typical coverage of about $500 to $1,000 per tree, but your own policy is what counts. Our written quote and invoice list each tree and what was done, which is the kind of record an adjuster asks for. A tree that fell without hitting anything is often not covered.

Leaning trees after a storm

A tree that tipped partway and is leaning with heaved soil at its base has lost much of its anchorage. Standing it back up rarely works with large trees, and the next storm usually finishes the job. If it leans toward the house, treat it as part of the emergency.