HOUSTON – Hester Arceneaux, a longtime resident of Houston, is facing a daunting challenge after a tree in her neighbor’s yard fell during Hurricane Beryl, causing significant damage to her property. The tree, which has been a source of concern for years, now poses a serious threat to her home.
“I’ve lived here since 1978, and this was supposed to be our forever home,” Hester shared, reflecting on her long-standing commitment to her property.
Prior to Hurricane Beryl, Arceneaux said she took her neighbor to small claims court trying to force him to remove a tree. But Arceneaux said a judge dismissed the case.
Then July 8, 2024, came and Hurricane Beryl hit, bringing down the troublesome tree.
Arceneaux told KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun the neighbor’s insurance said there’s nothing they could do because it was an ”act of God."
State law states if the tree was healthy before a storm and high winds caused the tree to fall over and damage your property, you cannot hold your neighbor liable.
However, her peace has been uprooted after Hurricane Beryl hit July 8, 2024. Since then, she’s tried looking up resources.
As hurricane season approaches, Hester’s fears grow as another tree looms over her property.
“That that tree is going to fall on my garage and destroy it,” Arceneaux said. “Just like the other tree broke the fence, now sits in my backyard.”
Barry Ward, Executive Director of Trees for Houston, emphasizes the importance of proactive tree care, especially in hurricane-prone areas.
“You need to have professionals looking at your trees, especially large trees, to care for them and make sure they’re prepared and healthy,” he advised. “Small amounts of money put in yearly and seasonally will save you very large bills from disasters later on.”
Ward also highlighted the “three Rs” of tree safety: choosing the right tree, planting it in the right place, and ensuring regular maintenance.
“A certified arborist will be able to come in and tell you that and tell exactly how quickly you should get rid of that tree,” he explained. “But generally speaking, a good professional will come out, do an assessment, and say, that’s the wrong tree for that place.”
The Texas Society of Arborist has a resource for homeowners to find a certified arborist in their area.
Arceneaux has a notebook filled with names and numbers of people she’s reached out to for assistance, she remains hopeful that her story will inspire others to take tree maintenance seriously. “God has a reason, and I know he’ll bring me safely through,” she said.
