Safety First: What Not to Touch
Never approach a downed tree that's touching a power line — treat every line as live until the utility company confirms otherwise, and call them immediately. Stay away from trees that are leaning or partially fallen; they can shift without warning.
Document Before You Clean Up
Take photos of the damage from multiple angles before anything is moved or removed. This matters for insurance claims — once debris is cleared, it's harder to establish the full extent of what happened.
When to Call a Professional Immediately
Any tree touching a structure, blocking a driveway you need for emergency access, or leaning unpredictably needs a professional, not a DIY attempt. Storm-damaged trees are under tension in ways that make them more dangerous to cut than a normal removal.
What Not to Do Yourself
Climbing on a roof to assess damage, cutting a tree that's under tension or spring-loaded against something, or attempting to move a tree off a power line are the most common ways homeowners get hurt after a storm. Leave these to a professional crew with the right equipment.
Getting Back to Normal
Once the immediate hazard is cleared, a full cleanup — remaining debris, stump handling if needed, and an assessment of any other storm-stressed trees on the property — can be scheduled without the same urgency. We prioritize the hazard first, then handle the rest.