Emergency tree removal crew questions

Emergency tree removal crew checks start with the questions below. Use them on any crew, including a partner crew that calls you from the form on this site. This page does not rank, score, or review a company.

In Shreveport, the city asks arborists for proof of a State of Louisiana arborist license and a yearly city registration. Ask any crew which license it holds, and ask to see it in writing.

A tree fell on the house. Here is the order to follow. comes before the hiring questions. If the tree is on a wire, stay away and call 911 or the utility before you talk to a crew about cutting it.

Questions to ask before they start

Ask these on the first call or at the door, and ask for the answers in writing.

• Florida's Attorney General, after Hurricane Milton in 2024, said: "Check for proof of insurance and verify with the insurer that the policy is current". The same alert said: "Get at least three written, itemized estimates on bids or repairs".
• Is the crew trained for work near a line? OSHA says: "All tree trimming/removal within 10 feet of a power line must be done by trained tree trimmers." Oncor, a Texas power company, says it is possible to be shocked just by being in the area of a downed power line. Stay much farther back yourself, and treat the line as live. In Mobile, the city says debris haul-off is "the Contractor's responsibility to collect and remove the debris, and take it to the landfill." The Mobile page has the rest of the trash rule.

Red flags

Each line below is from the Florida Attorney General's October 11, 2024 alert after Hurricane Milton, written for Floridians. None of them is a review of a named company.

• "Watch out for anyone who approaches unsolicited about tree removal" Florida Attorney General
• "Never pay the full amount upfront, and do not make a final payment until completely satisfied with the work." Florida Attorney General
• The Florida Attorney General points Floridians to DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA for FEMA relief applications.

What the quote should show

Ask whether hauling the wood and debris away is on the written estimate. How much does tree removal cost? explains why this site does not print a dollar figure for the cutting.

If the house is in Pensacola, Mobile, Tallahassee, or Shreveport, read that city's permit note before the crew cuts. Do I need a permit to remove a tree? is the short version.

The form on this page asks a partner crew to call you. Use the questions above on that call the same way you would with any other company.