If a tree has fallen on your home, a person, or power lines — call 911 first.
Never touch or approach downed power lines. Stay at least 35 feet away from any wire on the ground. Assume every downed line is energized.
Storm Damage Tree Emergency Guide
A practical, step-by-step resource for homeowners dealing with storm-damaged trees. Covers what to do in the first 24 hours, how to assess damage, how to avoid scams, and how to navigate an insurance claim.
Immediate Steps After Storm Damage
The first hours after a storm matter for safety, insurance, and protecting your property from further damage.
1
Ensure personal safety first
Get everyone — including pets — away from damaged trees, leaning structures, and any debris field. Do not re-enter a building where a tree has penetrated the roof or walls until a structural engineer or inspector says it is safe. A tree on a house changes the load-bearing dynamics of the entire structure.
2
Document the damage before anything is touched
Take extensive photos and video of every damaged tree, the full debris field, any structural damage, and the surrounding area. Capture the position of the tree relative to structures. This documentation is the foundation of your insurance claim. Without it, adjusters have nothing to work from.
3
Contact your insurance company
File a claim within 24–48 hours of the storm. You do not need to know the full extent of damage to open a claim — you can always update it. Ask specifically about emergency tarping coverage, temporary repairs, and the timeline for an adjuster visit. Keep the claim number and the adjuster's direct contact.
4
Call a certified arborist — not a storm chaser
A certified arborist (ISA credential) is trained to assess structural risk, determine whether a tree can be saved, and perform removal safely. Storm chasers are often unlicensed laborers who arrive after storms offering cut-rate deals. They lack insurance, proper equipment, and the knowledge to safely handle tension-loaded or entangled trees.
5
Get written estimates before authorizing any work
Never authorize tree work — even removal of a tree sitting on your roof — without a written estimate that itemizes the scope of work, the price, and the company's insurance details. In most states, a verbal agreement is still a contract. Getting it in writing protects you from scope creep and fraudulent billing.
6
Check for utility line involvement before anyone goes near the tree
If any part of the tree is in contact with overhead wires, call your utility company before calling a tree service. Utility crews will de-energize lines or confirm safe clearance. No tree crew should work near energized lines without a utility-hired line clearance crew present.
Storm Damage Assessment Guide
Not all storm damage is equal. Use this guide to understand what you are dealing with before an arborist arrives.
Crown twist / branch failure
High winds cause branches to torque and break at the attachment point. Look for large limbs hanging by strips of bark or partially detached but still suspended in the canopy.
SeverityModerate to High
DIY?No
Immediately — hanging limbs (widow makers) can fall without warning and are among the leading causes of storm-related fatalities.
Trunk split
Lightning or extreme wind pressure causes the trunk to crack vertically or split into two or more sections. The tree may appear upright but is structurally compromised.
SeverityHigh — usually fatal for the tree
DIY?No
Same day. A split trunk has no structural integrity and can collapse onto structures, vehicles, or people without warning.
Root failure / uprooting
The root ball lifts out of the soil, tipping the tree at an angle or dropping it entirely. Common in saturated soils after heavy rain combined with wind.
SeverityHigh
DIY?No
Immediately. The root ball and trunk are under extreme load. Do not walk near the base of a partially uprooted tree.
Lightning strike
Lightning causes explosive steam pressure inside the trunk, stripping bark and wood in a long vertical wound. May also cause an internal fire that is not visible from outside.
SeverityHigh — even trees that look intact may be internally damaged
DIY?No
Within 24–48 hours. Have an arborist assess structural integrity and check for smoldering inside the trunk before assuming the tree is stable.
Hanging / broken limbs (widow makers)
Large limbs broken mid-span and suspended in the canopy by surrounding branches. They are called widow makers because they fall with no warning — often days or weeks after the storm.
SeverityExtreme safety hazard
DIY?Never
Same day. Rope off the area beneath. Do not attempt to dislodge with tools from below. This is the most dangerous post-storm tree situation.
New lean post-storm
A tree that has developed a visible lean it did not have before the storm. May indicate partial root failure or soil shift. The tree may remain standing but is no longer anchored correctly.
SeverityModerate to High — needs assessment
DIY?No
Within 24–48 hours. A certified arborist can determine if the root system has failed or if the lean is superficial. Do not let children play nearby until evaluated.
Red Flags: How to Spot Storm Chaser Scams
After major storms, fraudulent tree services flood affected neighborhoods. These operations take payment for incomplete or dangerous work, then disappear. The following patterns are warning signs.
1
Knocks on your door unsolicited immediately after a storm — legitimate companies do not solicit door-to-door2
Demands full payment or a large cash deposit before starting any work3
Cannot produce proof of liability insurance and workers compensation on the spot4
Refuses to provide a written, itemized estimate before work begins5
Uses high-pressure tactics — 'I can start right now but only at this price'6
Has out-of-state license plates and no verifiable local business address7
Quote is dramatically lower than every other estimate you received8
Cannot name a local business license number or provide a state contractor license9
Recommends topping the tree — a practice condemned by the ISA as harmful and dangerous10
Cannot provide references from local customers in your city or countyHow to verify a tree service is legitimate
✓Look up their business license with your state contractor licensing board
✓Call the insurance company listed on their certificate — verify the policy is active
✓Search their company name on the ISA's Find an Arborist tool at isahire.org
✓Check Google Reviews for a review history older than 3 months in your area
✓Ask for two local references and actually call them
✓Confirm they have a physical address — not a P.O. box or no address at all
✓Never pay more than a 10–15% deposit before work begins
Insurance Claims Guide
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Storm Preparedness: Before the Next Storm
Annual Inspection Checklist
✓Schedule an arborist inspection before storm season begins (spring)
✓Look for dead or hanging branches in the upper crown
✓Check the base of the trunk for fungal growth, cracks, or hollow spots
✓Inspect root zone for soil heaving or signs of root rot
✓Identify codominant stems with narrow V-shaped unions — high splitting risk
✓Check cables and bracing hardware installed in prior years for condition
✓Remove or redirect branches growing toward the house or power lines
Pruning for Wind Resistance
Properly pruned trees shed wind more efficiently and are significantly less likely to fail in storms. The goal is a balanced crown with good airflow, not a reduced or "topped" tree.
Crown thinning — removing select interior branches — reduces wind load without changing the tree's shape or size. It is different from topping, which creates decay and instability.
Deadwood removal is the single highest-value storm prep investment: dead branches have no flexibility and are the first to fail in wind.
Species Most Vulnerable to Storm Damage
Some species are structurally or anatomically prone to storm failure. If any of these grow near your home, a pre-storm assessment by an arborist is a worthwhile investment.
Silver mapleFast-growing with weak wood; branches break easily in ice and high winds
Bradford pearTight co-dominant branching structure almost always fails by age 15–25
WillowShallow, wide-spreading roots prone to uprooting in saturated soils
CottonwoodBrittle wood snaps readily; large limbs fail without warning
HackberrySusceptible to witches broom disease which weakens branch structure
Leyland cypressShallow roots and top-heavy growth habit; prone to toppling in wind
When to Proactively Remove a Tree
Proactive removal is significantly less expensive than emergency removal and eliminates the risk of the tree causing damage. Consider removal before storm season if any of the following apply:
!The tree is dead or more than 50% of the crown is dead
!There is fungal growth (mushrooms, conks) at the base or on the trunk
!The trunk has a large cavity, crack, or hollow section
!The tree has developed a significant lean toward a structure
!Major roots have been severed by construction or trenching within the last 3 years
!Previous storms have removed major scaffold branches, leaving the crown unbalanced
!An arborist has assessed the tree as high hazard risk