Dangerous Situation Neighbor's Dead Tree

[cathyb1020]

I am remodeling the house I grew up in and will be moving into it within the next week or two. My next door neighbor that I have known since birth because her parents passed away and she is living in the house she grew up in has a huge dead tree in her backyard that is very close to my house. If it is to come down during the next storm or hurricane, it could easily fall completely on my house and cause extensive damage to my home and injury or death to me and my family. The tree has been dead for years and she realizes it needs to come down but she cannot afford it. She has no home insurance on the house. I talked to her yesterday and she seriously was talking about cutting down the tree herself stating that she is a tomboy with a chainsaw and 3 ladders (and 51 years old!). The thought of her trying to do it herself really scares me and I am worried about her safety too. Another issue that bothers me is that the house is still in her father's name and her parents have been dead for many years. I saw on the appraisel district site that since it is still in his name, she gets the senior tax exemption that literally saves her around $4,000 per year, otherwise, I don't think she could even afford to live there. I don't have extra money to offer to pay to have the tree cut down and of course, it is not my place to do it. What can I do to protect my property and family from this tree eventually falling onto our property?

 

[tpajet]

Normally I would say if you have a chick with a chainsaw not to argue. But this is a Texas chick with a chainsaw, soooo... shuy yer piii-hole son and let er have at it.

If she doesn't have the money, and you don't have the money, then your only two options are A- let the tree fall when it decides to, and in the mean time make sure you keep your homeowners insureance up to date, or B - let Texas chainsaw chick have at it.

If she owns a chainsaw I would hope she knows how to use it. And in this case the trick is to climb to the top of the tree with the chainsaw OFF. Then make sure you are settting real secure and NOT ON the branch you are planning to cut. Then fire it up and cut. Cut it limb by limb working from top to bottom. And if she's the one doing the cutting, then you might be a good neighbor and have your phone out ready to call 911. But if she does the top to bottom thing, it should be OK, as long as the wood is still solid enough to hold her weight.