Risk review
Begin with a decision record that another person could understand without seeing the tree. For the Port St. Joe property, list visible changes, when they were noticed, and whether they involve a branch, one stem, the root area, or the full structure. Identify the people and property within reach, including neighboring space and required access routes. Photographs from normal safe positions can support the record, but they should not require standing under damaged wood or entering a suspected failure zone. Ask the evaluator what can be confirmed on site, what remains uncertain, and whether an alternative to full removal would adequately reduce the concern. The recommendation should connect observed defects to likely consequences, not to species, location, or assumed weather history. Do not perform a pull test, expose roots, climb, or cut sample material. Restrict the area first if active movement or suspended material changes the immediate risk.