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Tree down? Here’s what to do first.
Take a breath. Most storm damage looks worse than it is, and the next hour is mostly about keeping everyone clear while help is on the way.
Tell us where the tree is, what it’s touching and whether anyone is hurt. If someone is hurt, call 911 first.
Four things to do before anyone picks up a saw.
Treat every wire as live
Stay at least 30 feet from any line that is down or touching the tree. Call the power company. Only they can make it safe.
Keep people out from under it
Hanging limbs and split trunks can shift hours later. Keep kids, pets and cars well clear.
Don’t cut what’s under tension
A bent limb can spring back hard when cut. Leave it for a crew with ropes and a plan.
Take photos from a safe spot
Wide shots and close-ups of any damage to the house, fence or car. Your insurer will ask for them.
What happens on a storm call.
We sort storm calls by danger, not by who called first. A tree on a bedroom roof comes before a limb across the lawn.
- On the phone
We ask where the tree is, what it’s resting on, and whether wires or people are involved. We’ll tell you when to expect us.
- Make it safe
First visit: take the weight off the house, clear the drive, tarp any opening in the roof if needed so the rain stays out.
- Take it down
Pieces lowered on ropes, slowly, so nothing else gets damaged on the way down.
- Paperwork
Photos before, during and after, plus an itemized invoice you can hand to your insurer.
- Clean up
Once the urgent calls are done, we come back for the rest: brush, wood, stumps and a raked yard.
A word on storm chasers.
After big storms, out-of-town crews knock on doors. Before anyone touches your tree, ask for a written estimate and proof of insurance, and never pay in full up front. That goes for us too.