A tree is about to fall on my house in Panama. What should I do?

Safety first: get people and cars out of the area where it could fall, and do not try to cut it yourself. Then document the tree with photos and request the hazard felling permit, which at MiAmbiente is free of charge. If it has already fallen on the street, on power lines, or someone is trapped, it is an emergency: call 911.

The first 30 minutes

1. Clear the fall zone. As a rule of thumb, a falling tree can reach a distance similar to its height. Nobody underneath, or on the side it leans toward.
2. Move cars and valuables if you can do it without getting close to the trunk or passing under the crown.
3. Stay away from power lines. If a limb touches the lines, do not touch it with poles or ladders. Notify the power distributor for your area: ENSA, Naturgy (Panamá Oeste and the interior) or EDECHI (Chiriquí).
4. Take photos of the whole tree, the base and the direction it leans. Those photos support the permit and your home insurance claim, if you have one.
5. Do not cut it yourself. A leaning tree is loaded with tension: when cut, the trunk can split or swing where you do not expect.

Signs a tree may fall

• It started leaning in recent weeks, especially after heavy rain or wind.
• Roots on the side opposite the lean are lifted, or the soil has cracked.
• There is fungus at the base, the trunk sounds hollow, or it has long cracks.
• It has large dead or broken limbs hanging.
• Someone dug a trench, excavation or slab close to its roots.

A single symptom does not always mean it will fall, but two or more together call for a prompt assessment.

Who do I call?

If it has fallen or people are in immediate danger

Call 911. If the tree is on a public road or in a community common area, you can also report it to the citizen service line 311.

If it is on your property and has not fallen yet

The right process is felling for imminent danger through MiAMBIENTE's regional office. It is free and is approved after a technical inspection that assesses the risk (Res. DM-0055-2020). You need a letter with the location, photos of the tree, proof of ownership and a copy of your ID. In urban areas the municipality may also require its own permit.

Why you should not cut it without a permit, even if it is dangerous

Whoever fells a tree without the required authorization or coordination is liable (Criminal Code, Law 14 of 2007, arts. 401-402). The recommended path is to secure the area, document it and coordinate right away with MiAMBIENTE's regional office, and with the distributor if there are power lines.

What we do at Gallardía

We assess the tree, document the risk to support the hazard permit, and carry out sectional felling: each piece is lowered on a rope so it does not fall on the roof, the wall or the lines. We coordinate with the power distributor when lines are involved.

The base price for controlled felling near a building is $200 per tree, and $800 for a large tree that has to come down in sections. Transport is not included. The assessment is free.

Related questions

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