Storm and fallen tree removal in Huntsville

When wind brings a trunk down across shingles, a parked car or a fence line, the order matters: lines and safety first, then the tree, then the debris.

A storm record worth respecting

On April 27, 2011, the National Weather Service's Huntsville office recorded 39 tornadoes in its forecast area, with 100 direct deaths, and a tornado hit Madison County six times that day. The EF5 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado tracked 102 miles with peak winds of 210 mph; it did EF4 damage in Harvest, particularly in the Anderson Hills subdivision, and toppled nearly a dozen high-voltage lines in Limestone County.

It wasn't a one-off. Harvest was struck by two F5 tornadoes within 30 minutes on April 3, 1974, and by an EF3 on March 2, 2012. Hazel Green took two tornadoes on March 2, 2012 and an EF3 on April 1, 2023.

Right after the storm

• Stay clear of any tree touching a line. Report it to Huntsville Utilities on its outage line, 256-53-LIGHT, and let the utility deal with the wire.
• Keep people out from under hung-up limbs. OSHA lists falling trees and limbs among the main struck-by hazards in tree work.
• Photograph the damage. Pictures of the tree where it landed help with any insurance claim and with the contractor's quote.
• Then call for the removal. Say where the tree landed and what it is resting on, so the contractor can plan the equipment.

What storm work costs

Angi says an emergency removal can run up to $5,000, and lists removing an already-fallen tree at $75 to $150 in simple cases. Its debris guide puts tree debris cleanup at a $150 average, with most homeowners paying $75 to $500, and notes that after a major storm, waiting a week or more before getting quotes generally brings prices back down, if the debris isn't urgent.

Curbside cleanup after storms

After severe storms in May 2017, the City of Huntsville waived its usual 10 cubic yard limit for the cleanup period but still asked residents to cut debris into lengths of no more than five feet. The same notice said that when a contractor is hired, the contractor is responsible for removing all the storm debris it generates. The City's current curbside rules also exclude debris from a contractor's work, so make sure hauling is in the quote.

Check the pines a few weeks later

Alabama Extension notes that Ips engraver beetles usually attack weakened or recently damaged pines, including trees hurt by storms. Snapped tops and torn bark are worth a second look a few weeks after the cleanup. See the pine beetle guide.