Dealing With Damaged Trees in the Aftermath of a Major Storm

Trees damaged by storms require immediate attention (removing low-hanging branches, clearing from utility lines, etc.). Homeowners need to be aware of safety issues and consider the best approach for dealing with a tree they are trying to save. Below are some resources to guide storm recovery.

First, the Nebraska Forest Service wants to remind residents that we do not provide private tree assessments in communities. If you need help with a tree in your yard, we recommend contacting a certified arborist and/or a licensed tree care company.

For all tree work: Ask for certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage and workers’ compensation. Contact the insurance company to make sure the policy is current. Under some circumstances, you can be held financially responsible if an uninsured worker is hurt on your property or damages a neighbor’s property.

For tree work that requires tree assessment/ pruning, we recommend turning to a certified arborist. Certification demonstrates the individual has the knowledge to perform tree work correctly, but does not guarantee the quality of the work performed by that individual. It is important to remember that an individual does not have to hold an arborist certification to be licensed to do tree work in a community. Certification is not a requirement of licensure, and licensure requirements vary by city (with some cities not requiring licensure).

Nebraska Arborist Association https://www.nearborists.org/find-an-arborist-1

International Arborist Association. https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch

For tree removal work, we recommend verifying that: