After a storm, the safest thing you can do with a damaged tree is assess it from a distance and resist the urge to clean up under it. Downed or sagging power lines, hanging broken limbs (widow-makers), and split trunks under tension cause most post-storm injuries and deaths. Assume every downed line is live, keep everyone back, photograph the damage for insurance, and let insured professionals handle anything involving a chainsaw, a climb, or wood over your head. Small twigs and debris on the ground are the only safe DIY cleanup. This guide walks you through it.
Watch how it's done
Video: Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Shown for reference — not affiliated with GetHoustonLeads.
What you'll need
- A phone camera for insurance photos
- Work gloves for ground debris only
- Caution tape or cones to block off hazards
- Your utility and tree-service phone numbers
Recommended parts & supplies
- Heavy-duty work gloves — for clearing small ground debris only
- Safety caution tape — cordon off hazards and downed lines
- Rechargeable work light — assess safely after storm power loss
- Portable power station — Houston hurricane outage backup
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Step by step
- 1
Stay inside until the storm fully passes
Do not go out to check trees during the storm or while winds are still gusting. More limbs come down in the hours after a storm as saturated wood and loosened branches let go. Wait for calm, and go out in daylight if you can — assessing damage by flashlight is far more dangerous.
- 2
Treat every downed wire as live and deadly
If a line is down or a limb is on a line, stay at least 35 feet away and assume it is energized — even if it looks dead and the power is out. Never approach, never touch a branch touching a wire, and keep kids and pets inside. In Houston, call 911 if a line is arcing or sparking, and report downed lines to CenterPoint Energy. This is the rule that saves lives after every hurricane.
- 3
Look up before you walk under anything
Broken limbs often hang caught in the canopy, held by a strip of bark, ready to drop. These widow-makers kill people during cleanup every storm season. Before stepping under any tree, look up. If you see a hanging or partially attached limb, do not go under it and do not try to knock it down — rope off the area and leave it for a pro with the right rigging.
- 4
Check for split trunks and branches under tension
A trunk that has split, or a large limb bent and pinned under the weight of others, is storing enormous force. Cutting into wood under tension makes it whip or spring back violently — one of the most common ways homeowners get badly hurt after storms. Do not cut anything that is bent, pinned, or leaning under load. Mark it and wait for professionals.
- 5
Document the damage for your insurance claim
Before any cleanup, photograph everything from safe ground: the tree, the damage, and anything it fell on — roof, fence, car. Get wide shots and close-ups, and note the date. If a tree hit your home, most Houston homeowners policies cover the structure repair and reasonable removal; good photos and receipts make the claim smoother. Do not do risky cleanup just to speed a claim.
- 6
Clear only small, safe ground debris
You can safely rake and haul small twigs, leaves, and light branches that are already on the ground, well clear of any lines. That is the limit of safe DIY after a storm. Anything requiring a chainsaw, a ladder, a climb, or standing near a compromised tree should wait for an insured crew.
- 7
Call an insured tree service for the real work
For hanging limbs, split trunks, a tree on your house, or anything near a line, call a licensed, insured tree service. After a Houston hurricane, reputable crews book up fast and out-of-town door-knockers show up — verify insurance and get it in writing before anyone climbs or cuts. Never let an uninsured crew work on your property; if they are hurt, you can be liable.
When to call a pro
Call an insured tree service for any storm damage involving hanging or broken limbs still in the canopy, a split or leaning trunk, wood under tension, or a tree that fell on a structure. Call your utility (CenterPoint in Houston) or 911 for anything touching a power line — that is never DIY under any circumstances. Post-storm tree work is the single most dangerous kind: unstable wood, hidden tension, heights, and chainsaws combine to cause the injuries and fatalities that spike after every hurricane. Verify a company’s insurance before work begins, and be wary of unlicensed crews that appear right after a big storm.
Get a free quote from a local pro
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Storm-Damaged Tree — FAQ
What should I do first after a tree is damaged in a storm?
Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal after a storm?
Is it safe to cut a branch that is bent under another after a storm?
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