Storm Damage Assessment and Emergency Response

Storm damage work is where tree service companies make good money and where people get hurt. The urgency is real, but rushing kills. Here is how to approach it systematically.

Scene Assessment First

Before you touch a tree, assess the scene. Look for downed power lines. Assume every line is energized until the utility confirms otherwise. If a tree is in contact with a power line or has a line draped across it, do not go near it. Call the utility company and wait. This is not negotiable.

Check for gas leaks (smell of rotten eggs), structural damage to buildings, and unstable ground. Mark hazard zones with caution tape or cones.

Triage the Work

Not every call after a storm is an emergency. Prioritize by actual risk:

• Immediate hazard: Trees on structures, blocking roads, on cars with people inside, leaning on power lines
• High priority: Hanging limbs over high-traffic areas, partially failed trees that could complete failure
• Can wait: Trees that fell in open areas, broken branches still attached but not over targets, cosmetic damage

Resist the pressure to say yes to everything. A crew spread too thin makes mistakes.

Assessing Damaged Trees

A tree that lost 50% or more of its crown is unlikely to recover well. Recommend removal. Trees that lost less than 25% of their crown and have no structural damage to the trunk or main scaffold branches can usually be saved with corrective pruning.

Check for:

• Trunk cracks or splits
• Root plate lifting (soil heaving at the base)
• Hanging branches (widow-makers)
• Leaning trees with exposed roots on the uphill side
• Lightning strikes (look for the spiral scar pattern)

Pricing Storm Work

Emergency rates are higher than standard rates. That is expected and fair. You are deploying crews on short notice, often after hours, in hazardous conditions. Communicate your emergency pricing clearly up front. Put it in writing. Desperate homeowners sometimes dispute charges after the fact if they do not have a signed agreement.

Get a signed authorization before starting any work. A simple one-page form with the scope, price, and customer signature protects both parties.

Watch for Storm Chasers

After major storms, unlicensed and uninsured operators flood the market offering cheap work. They cause property damage, get injured, and disappear. Position your company as the licensed, insured, professional alternative. Your existing customers are your best referral source after a storm.

Sources and Further Reading

• • International Society of Arboriculture: Provides professional standards and safety protocols for tree risk assessment after severe weather events
• • FEMA: Offers comprehensive emergency response guidelines and coordination procedures for storm damage operations
• • National Weather Service: Supplies official storm tracking data, weather warnings, and post-storm hazard assessments
• • Tree Care Industry Association: Maintains industry best practices for safe tree removal and cleanup operations following storm damage

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