Post Storm Tree Damage Checklist for Seffner Homeowners: What to Do in the First Hour, First Day, and First Week
- Oliver Owens
- 21 minutes ago
- 7 min read
When a storm rolls through Seffner, the damage is not always obvious right away.
Sometimes it is dramatic. A tree down across the driveway. A limb through the roof. A fence crushed like it was cardboard.
Other times it is quieter and honestly more dangerous. A cracked limb hanging high up. A tree that leans just a little more than it did yesterday. A branch tangled near a line that looks harmless until it shifts.
UF IFAS reminds homeowners that storm cleanup can be extremely dangerous and that damaged limbs can be under pressure and unpredictable.
So this blog is your calm, step by step checklist for what to do after a storm in Seffner and nearby areas like Brandon, Valrico, Plant City, Riverview, Dover, Thonotosassa, and Mango.
We are going to break it into three time windows so you are not trying to do everything at once.
First hour First day First week
This is general educational guidance, not legal or emergency advice. If you have an immediate life safety risk, call emergency services.
The first hour: Safety before cleanup
1. Assume every downed power line is live
If you see a line down, or a branch touching a line, treat it like it can kill you.
Tampa Electric’s safety guidance says to stay as far away from downed power lines as possible, never touch a power line or anything touching it such as a tree branch or fence, and if you see a downed power line to call 911 and then Tampa Electric.
This one rule saves lives. It also saves you from making an insurance nightmare worse by getting injured.
If you cannot tell if it is a cable or a power line, assume it is power and keep your distance.
2. Create a safe perimeter
People naturally walk toward the damage. Kids and pets do too.
UF IFAS hurricane cleanup guidance recommends creating a safe work zone with a perimeter more than two times the height of the tree you are working on, and keeping non workers outside that perimeter.
Even if you are not cutting anything, this idea is still useful. Set the perimeter, keep people out, and do not stand under hanging limbs.
3. Look up before you walk under anything
This is one of the easiest mistakes to make. You focus on the branch on the ground and forget what is still above you.
UF IFAS storm guidance warns to beware of dangerous broken limbs that are hanging or caught overhead and may fall.
4. Decide if this is an emergency tree service situation
Call for emergency help if any of these are true
• A tree is on your home, garage, or vehicle
• A limb is hanging over an entryway, driveway, or play area
• A tree is leaning toward a structure and the lean looks new
• Branches are tangled near lines
• You cannot safely access your property
The first day: Document, prevent more damage, and make smart decisions
1. Document everything before you move it
This is the part people skip because they want their yard back.
FEMA’s guidance on documenting damage after severe weather events recommends taking photos and videos of damage and keeping receipts related to repairs and replacement.
Before you drag branches away, take:
• Wide photos showing the whole scene and where the tree hit
• Close ups of impact points on the roof, fence, siding, gutters, or windows
• Photos of the broken points on the tree if you can safely see them
• Video walkthroughs of the yard and exterior
If you end up needing an insurance claim, this is the proof you will wish you had.
2. Stop additional damage if you can do it safely
Think of this as stabilizing, not fixing.
Examples that are usually reasonable
• Cover roof openings with a tarp
• Move valuables away from leaks
• Block off unsafe areas so nobody walks under hazards
Save receipts for supplies. FEMA specifically notes keeping receipts for purchases made to repair or replace damaged property.
3. Do not rush into chainsaw work
UF IFAS Hillsborough County cautions that storm damaged trunks and limbs can be under tremendous pressure and are extremely dangerous to cut and remove, and that it is best to contract with a qualified arborist unless you are well trained and experienced.
This is not about being dramatic. It is about how many injuries happen when people try to cut a limb that is bent, pinned, or under tension.
4. Check for hidden red flags
These are the issues that cause trees to fail later, sometimes days after the storm.
Look for:
• New cracks in major limbs or the trunk
• Bark that looks separated or split
• A new lean that was not there before
• Soil lifting near the base on one side
• Large hanging limbs caught in the canopy
UF IFAS storm care guidance lists trunk lean and cracks as reasons to call a professional for inspection, and notes major trunk cracks often require removal.
5. Know when the County handles it
If a tree or limbs are in a public maintained area, the County has a process for requests.
Hillsborough County’s Request Tree Removal page says to contact the County to remove fallen trees or limbs in public maintained areas, and for immediate roadway safety issues to call their number rather than entering a request.
So if the issue is blocking a roadway or in a right of way area, start there.
The first week: Recovery, prevention, and long term safety
1. Decide which trees need a professional assessment
Not every tree needs an emergency visit. But some trees absolutely need a professional look.
• The tree is large and close enough to hit your home or your neighbor’s home
• The tree is showing cracks, lean changes, or canopy breakage
• There are mushrooms or conks at the base after the storm
• Multiple major limbs were lost, leaving the canopy unbalanced • You are unsure whether the tree can be saved safely
UF IFAS tree risk guidance emphasizes that storm damage can hide serious defects and that professional evaluation helps determine severity.
2. Remove broken branches the right way, not the fast way
If you do minor cleanup on small branches, make sure you are not leaving dangerous stubs or torn bark.
UF IFAS storm guidance notes that broken branches should be removed and trimmed to a correct location to allow faster healing and reduce chances of failure later.
If it is a large branch, high up, or over a target, let pros handle it.
3. Watch for delayed failures
This surprises homeowners.
A tree can survive the wind event but fail later because roots were loosened or cracks worsened.
Over the next week or two, keep an eye on:
• Lean that increases after rain
• New soil separation around the base
• Sudden leaf drop or rapid canopy browning on one side
• Small branches dropping daily from the same tree
If you see movement or change, do not ignore it.
4. Handle debris and cleanup safely
UF IFAS hurricane cleanup guidance emphasizes safety practices like setting a perimeter and keeping a first aid kit nearby.
Even if you are just hauling limbs to the curb, wear gloves, watch footing, and do not over lift.
5. Make your next storm easier with a simple plan
Once the yard is stable, this is the moment to do the work that reduces stress next time.
A smart plan usually includes:
• Deadwood removal over the home and driveway
• Structural pruning to reduce leverage on long heavy limbs
• Removing truly hazardous trees that cannot be made safe
• Documenting work with photos and invoices for your records
Special section: What to do if trees are near power lines
If a limb is touching a line, or a line is down, do not approach.
Tampa Electric says never touch power lines or anything touching them such as a tree branch or fence, and to call 911 and then Tampa Electric to report downed lines.
If you need to report tree limbs that may be growing too close to power lines and affecting service, Tampa Electric provides a Tree Limbs reporting form and notes they will investigate and advise on necessary line clearance.
This is the right order:
Safety first
Report to the utility
Then schedule tree work once the power side is handled
Post storm checklist you can screenshot
First hour
Keep people and pets away from damaged trees
Assume downed lines are live and stay far back
Set a perimeter at least two times the height of the tree
Identify hanging limbs and do not walk under them
Call emergency help if a tree is on a structure or near lines
First day
Take photos and videos before cleanup
Prevent more damage and keep receipts
Do not rush chainsaw work if limbs are under tension
Check for cracks, lean changes, soil lifting
If debris is in public maintained areas, contact the County
First week
Schedule an arborist assessment for high risk trees
Remove broken limbs correctly, not quickly
Monitor for delayed failures after rain
Plan pruning and hazard reduction for next storm season
Keep your documentation organized for insurance
Call to action
If you are in Seffner or nearby and a storm left you with hanging limbs, cracked trunks, a new lean, or a tree on your property that feels unsafe, do not try to muscle through it.
Start with safety, document the damage, and bring in a professional crew that can remove hazards and help save the trees that can be saved.
Suggested internal links to add in this blog
Emergency Tree Service
Hazardous Tree Removal
Tree Removal
Tree Trimming and Pruning
Certified Arborist Services
Free authoritative resources worth linking
Tampa Electric power line safety
Tampa Electric tree limbs reporting form
FEMA documentation and receipts guidance
Hillsborough County request tree removal in public maintained areas
UF IFAS guidance on caring for trees after a storm
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