Tree cleanup after a storm in Madison County

Once the storm has passed and everyone is safe, here is how to check your trees, deal with the debris, and avoid the scams that show up after every big storm.

If a tree is on the house or a car right now, start with the emergency steps instead.

Walk the yard

Look at every large tree near the house, driveway or play areas. Watch for:

• Hanging limbs. Broken branches caught up in the canopy can drop days later without wind.
• New cracks or splits, especially where big branches meet the trunk. Bradford pears often split this way.
• Lifted soil at the base. A crack in the ground or a raised mound on one side means the roots have pulled loose and the tree may go over in the next storm.
• A new lean that was not there before.

Any of these near a building is worth a crew's look before the next storm.

Leave tangled trees to a crew

Storm-downed trees are often bent under tension. A trunk or limb pinned under another can spring back hard when cut. Small branches on the ground are fine to pick up yourself. Anything big, tangled or leaning on something else should be cut by a professional.

Getting rid of the debris

• Unincorporated Madison County. Yard debris pickup is run by your county commission district for a monthly fee. Call your district office for your pickup day. The numbers are on the Madison County Waste Control page.
• Huntsville and Madison city residents. Check your city's sanitation page. After major storms the cities often announce special debris pickups.
• Full removals make more wood than curbside pickup takes. Ask the crew to haul it, or have it cut to firewood length and stacked.

Watch out for storm chasers

After big storms, crews from out of town go door to door. Some are fine. Some take a deposit and disappear. The Alabama Attorney General's office advises:

• Get the price and the work in writing, with the company's full name, address and phone number.
• Do not pay the full amount, or a large deposit, up front.
• Ask for proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
• Be extra careful with anyone who shows up unasked.

During a declared state of emergency, Alabama's price gouging law treats a price 25% or more above the area's average from the past 30 days as presumptively unconscionable, unless rising costs explain it. Report problems to the Attorney General's Consumer Interest Division at 1-800-392-5658.

Insurance

Photograph the damage before anything is moved, and keep every invoice. Policies generally help with trees that hit a covered structure. A tree that fell in the open yard often is not covered. Your adjuster has the final word.

Common questions

How do I tell if a tree is dangerous after a storm?

Look for broken limbs hanging in the canopy, new cracks where large branches meet the trunk, soil lifted or cracked at the base, and a lean that was not there before. Any of these near a building should be checked by a crew.

How do I get rid of storm debris in Madison County?

In unincorporated Madison County, yard debris pickup runs through your county commission district for a monthly fee. City of Huntsville and Madison residents should check their city's sanitation page for special storm pickups. For full removals, ask the tree crew to haul the wood.

How do I avoid storm repair scams in Alabama?

Get the price and work in writing, do not pay in full or make a large deposit up front, ask for proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance, and be careful with anyone who shows up unasked. Report problems to the Alabama Attorney General's Consumer Interest Division at 1-800-392-5658.