AUSTIN (KXAN) — While the winter storm warning officially ended at 10 a.m. Thursday, the road to recovery for many central Texas residents is just beginning — with vital help from arborists and tree felling services.
The Austin-based Angel’s Tree Service was already in Georgetown this morning responding to requests for help. Co-owner Carlos Zarate told KXAN that he estimates his company received around 200 service calls on Wednesday and Thursday alone.
Evan Peter, the owner of Austin-based Happy Tree Service, told KXAN they get more inquiries than they can answer, adding that they’re being forced to prioritize the most urgent inquiries and existing customers.
“The scale is so overwhelming,” said Peter.
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Fallen trees, branches and other plant debris are some of the main contributors to this week’s ice storm and power outages. Just half an inch of ice adds about 500 pounds of extra weight to power lines, causing them to sag and sometimes collapse.
The same accumulation of ice on trees also results in heavier branches, which can make the clean-up process even more difficult, Zarate said.
“We must [leave the limbs out after they’re cut] because at the moment they are very heavy. The ice has made them two to three times heavier,” added Zarate. “And we’re waiting for it to melt to just pick them up.”
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Zarate and his staff always wear helmets to protect themselves when removing trees. He urged others to do the same as the trees have suffered damage from ice accumulation.
“This is one of the riskiest times we’ve ever worked,” he added.
Peter said he encourages people to remain calm and not panic if there is a fallen tree on their property. He also warned residents to beware of door-to-door service providers as they may not be legitimate providers.
He recommended that potential clients only request services from certified arborists and those with proven workers’ compensation and general liability insurance. The Texas Department of Insurance can help verify those certifications, he added.
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Beyond local businesses, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson tweeted Thursday that Austin Resource Recovery customers can call 311 to request removal of fallen branches and other debris.
“Crews will assess and collect them as soon as possible,” Watson tweeted in part. “Customers are asked to have limbs ready for curbside pickup.”
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