What to do after a storm damages your trees
After a storm, it's tempting to grab a chainsaw and start cleaning up. Slow down. Most storm injuries happen during cleanup, not during the storm itself.
In the first hour
- Check on people first. If a tree hit the house, get everyone out of that part of the home.
- Stay away from downed lines. Treat every downed wire as live, including anything it touches: puddles, branches, metal. Report it to Georgia Power or call 911.
- If you smell gas, leave and call 911.
- Don't walk under damaged trees. Broken limbs can stay hung up in the canopy and drop later.
Once it's safe
- Take photos of the damage from several angles before anything gets moved. Your insurance company will want them.
- Call your homeowner's insurance and ask what's covered. Coverage varies by policy.
- Get a professional to look at trees on structures, trees leaning on other trees, and limbs bent under tension. These can snap back or shift without warning when cut.
- Keep receipts for emergency work and any temporary repairs.
What you can usually handle yourself
Small branches lying on open ground, away from lines and structures, are usually fine to pick up. Anything bigger, higher or under tension is a job for a trained crew.
When to call us
Tree on the house, a car or across the driveway? Call or text (678) 463-0051. We're open 24/7 (emergency service). For debris and follow-up removals, see storm damage cleanup or 24/7 emergency service.
Questions about your trees?
Text photos and your address to (678) 463-0051. Estimates are free.