After the Storm: Tree Damage Checklist
General safety information. If anyone is hurt, there's a gas smell or lines are down, call 911.
Print or save this checklist for the next East Texas storm.
Right after the storm
- Check people first. Call 911 for injuries or immediate danger.
- Stay away from downed lines and anything touching them, including trees, fences and puddles. Report them to your electric utility.
- Don't stand under broken or hanging limbs ("widowmakers") or next to leaning trees.
- If a tree hit the house, leave damaged rooms. If you smell gas, leave the home and call 911 or the gas company from outside.
Within the first day
- Photograph everything: the tree, the roots, all damage, from several angles.
- Call your insurer if a structure or vehicle was hit. See insurance basics.
- Prevent more damage when it's safe, such as tarping a roof opening.
- Request removal: describe the tree, where it landed and any lines involved. Use the form and pick Emergency.
Before hiring anyone
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' comp.
- Get a written estimate that lists cleanup, haul-off and stump grinding.
- Avoid large upfront cash payments to door-to-door crews.
After cleanup
- Check remaining trees for cracks, new leans or hanging limbs. See Is my tree dangerous?
- Schedule trimming or stump grinding once the urgent work is done.
Estimate costs with the cost calculator or read emergency tree removal.
Common questions
Can I cut up a fallen tree myself?
Small limbs on open ground, maybe, with proper safety gear. Trees under tension, leaning on structures or near lines are dangerous; chainsaw injuries rise after storms. Leave those to pros.
How far should I stay from a downed power line?
Stay well away. Many utilities advise at least 35 feet, and assume every downed line is energized. Call the utility or 911.
Who do I call first?
Call 911 for injuries, fire, gas smell or lines down. Then your insurer if property was damaged, then a tree service for removal.
Related
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