Tree Situation Can Be Testy

After getting power on and keeping people safe, the next big issue is all the storm debris. There's not just a ton of damage to trees, but damage from them as well. The News On 6's Steve Berg reports a lot of people have a love-hate relationship with their trees this week. They don't want to lose their trees, but the trees cause a lot of problems.

"This is overwhelming, even for us. We've been doing this for 18 years and this is about as worst we've ever seen it," said Taylor Tree Service owner David Taylor.

One of the big questions people have is whether their insurance covers tree removal. The answer is only if it hits the house and there are limits concerning that.

"Insurance will cover to take it off the house, less the deductible. And most of them have a $500 debris removal max, so," said Taylor.

So it might very well cost more than $500 to get rid of. And people wonder what if their tree hits their neighbor's house. You might be surprised to know it's the neighbor's insurance that's responsible. Taylor says tree owners will sometimes offer to pitch in on the neighbor's deductible.

"Yeah we have seen that, and we've also seen some neighbors say, oh I'm sorry my tree landed on your house and walk away," said Taylor.

Still people are often sorry to see their trees go, which in calmer times, do add to a house's curb appeal. Taylor says you want an experienced trimmer or even an arborist to do a tree evaluation.

"I try and save it. Removal is your last resort," said Taylor.

Whoever you pick, don't pay until the job is done, and make sure they're bonded and insured, or you could be held liable if they're injured while working on your property.

"Make sure they have insurance and workmen's comp. That's kind of a big thing," said Taylor.

Tree trimming is not licensed by the state of Oklahoma. So check a company's references or check with the Better Business Bureau.