Week of August 24
ATCP Members Meet with Georgia Commissioner of Insurance
With the devastating memories of Hurricane Helene (2024) still vivid, tree care professionals gathered earlier this summer with Georgia Commissioner of Insurance John King to discuss the growing challenges of effective storm damage removal.
Helene tore through southeast Georgia in September 2024, leaving an unprecedented trail of destruction. Even now, debris remains scattered across the historic City of Augusta. The legendary Augusta National Golf Club lost hundreds of trees, while two nearby courses saw the ruin of more than 2,200 trees combined. Nearly a year later, many homeowners still haven’t been able to return to their properties — largely due to insurer delays in addressing claims.
The storm service professionals who met with Commissioner King have since joined ATCP, aligning with its mission to protect both the integrity of the tree care industry and the safety of homeowners. During their meeting, they detailed to Commissioner King the unfair and dishonest practices employed by certain property and casualty insurers that impede the timely removal of hazardous tree damage.
To build on this momentum, ATCP lobbyists are organizing similar educational meetings with statewide elected officials in other regions — ensuring that policymakers understand the realities faced by emergency response professionals in the tree care sector.
Tree Care Pros Meet with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr
Even before the formal creation of ATCP, Georgia-based tree care professionals met with Attorney General Chris Carr this summer to share insight into the emergency tree removal industry and its vital public safety role.
Attorney General Carr — who has announced his candidacy for Governor of Georgia — expressed his appreciation for the work done by qualified companies providing rapid and responsible storm cleanup, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene and a series of other high-intensity thunderstorms.
Carr also committed to facilitating introductions between ATCP and other state attorneys general, supporting efforts to spark similar conversations nationwide and strengthen the connection between regulators and industry professionals.
ATCP Elevates Industry Visibility Among State Officials
ATCP’s government relations strategy is driving greater visibility for the association and the broader tree care profession among key decision-makers across the country.
This proactive representation of members not only helps inform public policy but also improves the regulatory environment in which ATCP professionals operate daily. As part of this effort, ATCP’s government relations team is coordinating ongoing meetings with state leaders and policymakers nationwide to advocate for fairness, safety, and efficiency in storm recovery operations.