Storm Damaged Tree? Here is What to Do First

You wake up after a rough night of wind and thunder, step outside, and see a massive limb hanging from your oak tree. Or worse, the whole tree is leaning against your roof. Your pulse spikes. What do you do first?

Storm damage to trees is one of the most common and most dangerous situations homeowners in the Chicago area face. We respond to storm calls across Stickney, Berwyn, Riverside, and Oak Park year-round, and the first few decisions you make after the storm can mean the difference between a manageable cleanup and a serious safety incident.

Step 1: Safety First, No Exceptions

Before you touch anything, look up and look around. The single most dangerous thing near a storm-damaged tree is a downed power line, and they are not always obvious. A power line can be tangled in branches, lying in wet grass, or draped across a fence. It may not be sparking. It may look dead. It is not.

If you see any wire near or on a damaged tree, stay at least 35 feet away and call ComEd at 1-800-334-7661 immediately. Do not attempt to move branches off the line. Do not drive over a downed wire. Do not assume it is a cable or phone line. Treat every downed wire as if it will kill you, because it can.

Once you have confirmed there are no electrical hazards, assess from a safe distance. Do not stand under hanging branches, sometimes called "widow makers" for a reason. Do not enter your home if a tree is resting on the roof until a professional has evaluated the structural situation. If the tree has hit a gas line, leave the area and call Peoples Gas at 1-866-556-6002.

Step 2: Document Everything Before Cleanup Begins

Once you have confirmed the area is safe, pull out your phone and take photos. Lots of photos. Capture the overall scene, close-ups of the damage to the tree, damage to your home or property, and the surrounding area. If a neighbor's tree fell onto your property, photograph where the trunk base is rooted.

This documentation is critical for insurance claims. Your homeowner's policy typically covers damage caused by fallen trees, but the claims process goes much smoother when you have clear, timestamped photos taken before any cleanup work begins. We will cover more on insurance below.

Step 3: Can the Tree Be Saved?

Not every storm-damaged tree needs to come down. As arborists, we evaluate several factors to determine whether a tree can recover:

• How much canopy was lost? A tree that lost less than 50% of its crown has a reasonable chance of recovery, especially if the leader (central trunk) is intact. If more than 50% of the canopy is gone, the tree is unlikely to recover its structure and becomes a long-term hazard.
• Is the trunk split? A vertical split in the main trunk is usually a death sentence for the tree. The split will not heal and creates a permanent weak point. Bark damage or surface wounds, on the other hand, can often be managed.
• Are the major scaffold branches intact? These are the primary structural branches that form the tree's framework. If two or three of these are torn away, the tree's architecture is compromised beyond practical repair.
• Was the root plate lifted? If the tree is leaning and you can see soil heaving on one side, the root system has been compromised. Trees with root plate failure rarely survive and pose an ongoing fall risk.

If you are unsure, do not guess. Request a professional assessment. We can evaluate the tree's condition and give you an honest recommendation on whether restoration pruning or removal is the right path.

Step 4: Call a Professional, Not a Guy with a Chainsaw

After every major storm, unlicensed operators flood neighborhoods with door-to-door offers to clean up trees. They show up with a pickup truck, a chainsaw, and no insurance. This is one of the most dangerous decisions you can make.

Storm-damaged trees are under enormous tension. Branches that look stable can be loaded with thousands of pounds of force, ready to snap unpredictably when cut. Hung-up limbs, split trunks, and partially uprooted trees are technical operations that require training, proper rigging equipment, and experience. Every year, untrained operators are killed or seriously injured attempting storm cleanup work they are not qualified for.

Beyond safety, hiring an uninsured operator puts you at legal and financial risk. If someone is injured on your property and they do not carry workers' compensation insurance, you can be held liable. Always verify that your tree service carries both general liability and workers' comp. Our full service offerings are backed by proper insurance and trained crews.

For emergency storm damage in the Stickney and Chicago area, call us at (708) 484-4808. We prioritize hazardous situations, especially trees on structures, blocking roadways, or near power lines.

Dealing with Insurance Claims

Here is what most homeowners do not realize about tree damage and insurance: your homeowner's policy generally covers removal of a tree that has fallen on a covered structure (your house, garage, fence, or shed). However, if a tree falls in your open yard and does not hit anything, most standard policies will not cover the removal cost.

A few important tips for navigating the claims process:

• File the claim promptly. Most policies require you to report damage within a reasonable timeframe. Do not wait weeks.
• Get a written estimate before authorizing work. Your insurance company will want to see a detailed estimate from a licensed tree service. We provide these as part of our standard process.
• Understand your deductible. If the removal cost is close to your deductible, it may not be worth filing a claim. A typical tree removal runs $800 to $2,500 depending on size and complexity.
• Keep receipts for temporary repairs. If you need to tarp a damaged roof or board up a window, save those receipts. They are typically reimbursable.
• Ask about debris removal limits. Many policies cap tree debris removal at $500 to $1,000 per tree. Know your limits before the work begins.

Chicago Storm Patterns: What We Deal With

The Chicago area is no stranger to severe weather. Understanding the types of storms that hit our region helps you prepare and respond appropriately.

Derechos and straight-line winds are some of the most destructive events we see. Unlike tornadoes, derechos produce a wide swath of sustained, hurricane-force winds that can snap healthy trees at the trunk and uproot mature specimens across entire neighborhoods. The August 2020 derecho that tracked across the Midwest is a prime example, and similar events will happen again.

Summer thunderstorms bring the combination of high winds, heavy rain, and lightning. Saturated soil loosens root systems, and then wind gusts push trees over that would otherwise stand firm in dry conditions. This is why we see the most uprooted trees after prolonged rain followed by strong storms.

Ice storms in late fall and early spring are deceptive. A half inch of ice accumulation can add hundreds of pounds of weight to a tree's canopy. Branches that look fine will suddenly crack and fall under the load. Ice damage tends to affect species with brittle wood most heavily, including silver maples, Bradford pears, and Siberian elms, all of which are common in the western suburbs.

Be Proactive: Reduce Storm Risk Before It Happens

The best time to address storm vulnerability is before the storm hits. Regular pruning and crown thinning reduces wind resistance and removes weak, dead, or crossing branches that are most likely to fail. Having your trees professionally evaluated every 3 to 5 years is an investment that pays for itself the first time a storm rolls through and your trees hold up while the neighbors' do not.

If you have storm damage right now, do not wait. Call County Tree Service at (708) 484-4808 for emergency response, or book an assessment online. We serve Stickney, Berwyn, Riverside, Oak Park, and communities throughout the greater Chicago area.