Storm damage tree removal in Lafayette, LA
When a hurricane or a summer storm puts a tree on the house, the order you do things in matters. Here's what to do first.
Lafayette gets hurricanes, tropical storms and plenty of hard summer thunderstorms, usually on top of soil that's already soaked. The LSU AgCenter notes that shallow roots in saturated soil are one of the main reasons trees go over in high winds. After Hurricane Delta in October 2020, about half of Lafayette was without LUS power at one point, and downed trees and lines were reported across the parish.
What should I do first?
- Check for power lines. If anything is touching a line, stay well back and call your electric utility. Louisiana law bars unauthorized work within 10 feet of an overhead high-voltage line.
- Get people out of harm's way. If a tree is on the house, keep everyone out of the affected rooms.
- Document it. Photograph the tree, the damage and the yard before anything is moved.
- Call your insurance company. Ask what's covered and whether an adjuster wants to see it first.
- Call a licensed tree service. Tell them what's on what, so they bring the right equipment.
Does storm cleanup need a licensed arborist?
It depends on the job. The LSU AgCenter explains that clearing fallen debris off a house, driveway or lawn isn't treated as routine tree work and doesn't need the state arborist license. If the tree or limb is still attached to a standing tree, the license applies. After a declared emergency, LDAF can also issue temporary 90-day arborist licenses to people who hold another state's license or ISA certification and carry insurance, so ask to see whichever license the crew holds.
Watch out for door knockers
Crews from out of the area often show up after a big storm. The LSU AgCenter's advice: don't hire unlicensed people who come soliciting, and get a written contract that says what will be done and what it will cost. Louisiana license holders are supposed to show their license number on advertising vehicles.
Where does the debris go?
After storms, Lafayette Consolidated Government has asked residents to keep yard waste separate from other debris, keep piles three feet from hydrants and mailboxes, and never pile under power lines, near gas meters or in drainage ditches. Ask whether your tree company hauls everything away or leaves it at the curb.
The tree company prices the job after it has seen the tree, what's underneath it and how a truck or lift can reach it. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before a visit is a rough starting point at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will homeowners insurance pay for tree removal after a storm?
It depends on your policy and what the tree hit. Call your insurer before major work, and keep photos and receipts.
A tree fell on the line to my house. Who do I call?
Your electric utility, first. Stay back and keep others away until the utility says the line is safe.
Related services
More background: Lafayette tree removal guide.
Water oak on the roof, a pecan split in the storm, or a stump in the way?
Call and get connected with a Louisiana-licensed tree service that works in Lafayette Parish.