Storm Damage: What to Do When a Tree Comes Down
First: treat every downed tree as dangerous
Stay away from any tree touching a power line. Assume the line is live. Don't touch the tree, the line, or anything either is contacting — including a fence or metal gate the tree may be resting on. Call 911 and your utility immediately. This is the single most important rule after a storm, and it's the one people violate trying to be helpful.
Watch for trees under tension. A leaning or partially fallen tree can hold enormous stored energy. Cutting the wrong limb releases it violently. Storm-damaged trees are far more dangerous than standing ones, which is why storm work is a job for people with the right equipment and training.
Keep clear of hanging limbs. "Widowmakers" — broken limbs caught up in the canopy — can fall without warning, sometimes hours or days later.
Second: make sure people are safe
Get everyone away from the affected area. If a tree has hit the house, check whether the structure is compromised before going back inside. If there's a gas smell or visible structural damage, evacuate and call for help.
Third: document everything
Before anything is moved, take photos and video — the tree, the damage to structures and vehicles, and the surrounding area from multiple angles. Insurance adjusters will want this, and it's much harder to reconstruct after cleanup begins.
Fourth: call your insurance company
Report the damage promptly and ask specifically what's covered. Generally speaking, homeowners policies are more likely to cover removal when a tree has damaged a covered structure, and less likely when a tree simply fell in the yard — but policies vary considerably, so ask rather than assume. Ask about coverage limits for debris removal, whether you need approval before work starts, and what documentation they require.
Fifth: call a licensed, insured tree service
For anything beyond small branches you can safely drag to the curb, bring in professionals. Storm work involves tension, instability, heights, and often proximity to structures — it's where most serious chainsaw injuries happen.
Verify insurance before anyone starts. If an uninsured crew is hurt on your property, or damages your home further, that can become your problem. Ask for proof of liability and workers' comp.
Be cautious with storm chasers. Major storms attract out-of-area crews going door to door. Some are legitimate; many aren't. Be wary of large upfront cash demands, no written estimate, no local address, and high-pressure tactics. A local company you can find and hold accountable afterward is worth more than the cheapest quote.
What you can safely handle yourself
Small branches and light debris on the ground, well away from power lines, are generally fine to gather. Anything requiring a ladder, a chainsaw above shoulder height, or work near a structure or line — don't.
After the immediate emergency
Once things are safe, have remaining trees inspected. Storms often damage trees that are still standing — cracked branch unions, root plate lifting, split leaders — and those become the next emergency in the following storm. Catching them now is far cheaper.
Tree down in Celina? Call (469) 842-0663 — we offer 24/7 emergency service across Celina, Prosper and Collin County.