Immediate action guide
Landscaper Emergency Action Steps
What to do right now before a landscaper arrives, with clear lines for 911, utility, and contractor calls.
First rule
If there is fire, smoke, shock, collapse risk, gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, injury, trapped people, or any uncertainty about safety, leave the area and call 911. Use these steps only when you can act from a safe position.
E1
Irrigation Line Burst
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the spraying irrigation zone, controller, valve box, and nearby foundation.
- Turn off the irrigation controller and close the irrigation backflow or supply valve if reachable.
- Divert water away from the foundation, window wells, and sidewalks with temporary barriers.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a landscaper or irrigation pro and report the zone number and valve location.
Do not do this
- - Do not touch wet electrical devices, outlets, cords, panels, or switches.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E2
Retaining Wall Bulge
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the retaining wall, slope above, patio, driveway, and downhill area.
- Keep people and vehicles away from both the top and bottom of the wall.
- Redirect surface water away from the wall only from stable ground.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a landscaper, hardscape contractor, or engineer if movement is active or near a structure.
Do not do this
- - Do not remove blocks, dig behind the wall, or stand below a bulging section.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E3
Storm Debris in Yard
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from branches, sharp debris, downspouts, drains, and walking paths.
- Check from a distance for wires, unstable limbs, glass, metal, or blocked exits.
- Mark hazards and clear only small, safe debris from exits and drains.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a landscaper or tree service for heavy, sharp, or unstable debris.
Do not do this
- - Do not climb a ladder, roof, tree, fence, or damaged structure during the emergency.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E4
Unsafe Tree or Shrub Blocking Exit
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the blocked door, walkway, branch, root ball, and nearby lights.
- Use another exit if possible and keep people away from the leaning plant material.
- Tie back only small flexible branches from a safe position; do not cut loaded limbs.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a landscaper or tree service and explain whether any exit is blocked.
Do not do this
- - Do not use a chainsaw near an entry, window, or loaded limb during the emergency.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.
E5
Landscape Lighting Short
Do this now
- Move people, pets, and valuables away from the transformer, fixtures, wet soil, and walkway lights.
- Unplug the transformer or turn off its breaker if safe and dry.
- Keep people away from exposed wires and wet fixtures.
- Photograph safely, note the time, and save temporary-material receipts.
- Call a landscaper, outdoor-lighting installer, or electrician before restoring power.
Do not do this
- - Do not touch wet electrical devices, outlets, cords, panels, or switches.
- - Do not re-enter while alarms, odors, sparks, smoke, water, or movement continue.