Storm-Damaged Trees: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

Oliver Owens
Jul 28, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Aug 20, 2025

When a storm tears through Florida, it doesn’t whisper—it roars. One second you’re inside watching rain streak the windows, the next, there’s a tree sprawled across your driveway or leaning where your fence used to be. As tempting as it is to run outside and start cleaning up, those first 24 hours? They matter. A lot.

picture shows a damaged tree from the storm

At All Your Way Tree Service, we’ve been the first call for hundreds of Valrico and Seffner homeowners facing down fallen limbs, split trunks, and tangled messes. This isn’t our first rodeo, and we want to help you navigate those first hours calmly, safely, and smartly.

Step 1: Safety First—No Exceptions

Even if the wind has died down and the rain has passed, the danger isn’t always over.

Here’s what to watch for:

Power lines caught in or near trees? Stay back and call the utility company.
Trees that are leaning awkwardly or resting on your house? Don't go near them.
Branches hanging above sidewalks or play areas? Keep people and pets clear.

We’ve seen firsthand how post-storm injuries happen after the skies clear. Storm-damaged trees are unpredictable, and one wrong step can make things worse.

Step 2: Pause and Document Everything

Before you even grab a rake, grab your phone.

Take clear, wide-angle photos of your entire property, especially any damage to your home, fences, vehicles, or nearby power structures. Then, zoom in for close-up shots.

Time-stamped photos can be a lifesaver when it comes time to talk to insurance—or when you're trying to explain the extent of the damage to a tree professional. Trust us, a few extra pictures now can prevent big headaches later.

Step 3: Separate the Urgent from the Annoying

Storm damage can be overwhelming, so let’s break it down:

Emergency-level issues:

A tree is leaning heavily or clearly unstable
Large limbs are on your roof, fence, or car
Uprooted trees with exposed root systems

Non-urgent messes:

Scattered leaves, twigs, and small branches
Cosmetic damage to flower beds or shrubs
Trees that look messy but stable

👉 Need Emergency Tree Service in Valrico? Start Here

Step 4: Please Don’t Go Full DIY

We can’t say this enough: storm-damaged trees don’t behave like regular ones. They’re heavy, bent under pressure, and full of unseen forces. One bad cut, and the whole thing can shift on you.

We’ve responded to too many calls where a good neighbor with a chainsaw ended up pinned under a limb or sent to the ER.

Common DIY mistakes:

Misjudging limb weight and tension
Ladders on wet, unstable ground
Cutting without understanding where the load will shift
Working too close to live wires

Some things are best left to trained crews with rigging, helmets, and experience.

Step 5: Bring in a Certified Arborist

Not all tree guys are the same. A certified arborist knows how to read a tree’s condition, judge its structure, and make a call on whether it can be saved or needs to go. They also understand how to work safely around storm-stressed wood.

An arborist can help:

Diagnose hidden cracks, root damage, or internal rot
Identify which trees pose an ongoing risk
Safely remove or stabilize hazardous limbs
Provide the right documentation for insurance or permitting

👉 Get Help from a Certified Arborist

Step 6: Know What Can Stay—and What’s Got to Go

We get it—no one wants to cut down a tree they’ve had for years. But safety has to come first.

Trees you might be able to save:

Canopy damage is minor (less than 25%)
Trunk is intact, no major cracks
Tree remains upright and rooted firmly

Trees that should be removed:

Major splits or bark peeling from trunk
More than 50% of limbs snapped
Leaning visibly with lifted roots
Hollow or rotten areas visible post-storm

Step 7: File That Insurance Claim Promptly

Don’t wait around. Most homeowner policies require you to notify them within a tight window—sometimes 24 to 48 hours.

Have this ready:

Photos you took immediately after the storm
A written assessment from your arborist
Receipts or estimates for emergency tree services
Repair estimates for your property

Depending on your policy, removal may be partially covered—even if the tree didn’t hit a structure but blocked access.

Step 8: Don’t Ignore the “Okay” Trees

Your oak might look solid, but wind stress isn’t always visible. Just because it’s standing doesn’t mean it’s safe. In fact, many of the most dangerous failures we’ve seen happened days or weeks later.

Ask your arborist to inspect:

Trees near walkways, fences, and roofs
Those with dense, top-heavy growth
Trees with old pruning wounds or weak joints

Catch the warning signs early and you’ll avoid another round of chaos next storm.

How to Prepare Before the Next Storm

Here’s how to build a storm-resilient yard:

Annual inspections keep risks in check
Strategic trimming reduces wind load on branches
Deadwood removal eliminates the weakest links
Cabling or bracing can support heavy limbs
Healthy roots help trees hold steady through high winds

👉 Schedule Regular Tree Trimming

Backed by Science: Your Free Tree Safety Resource

We recommend bookmarking the University of Florida IFAS Extension’s Hurricane Prep Tree Guide. It’s written for Florida homeowners and is packed with science-backed tips for tree safety and preparation.