If a tree just came down or is leaning after a storm, start with our guide on what to do about storm-damaged trees.
Your trees survived the storm — but making it through the night isn’t the end of the story. Torn limbs, jagged cuts, and stressed roots need the right follow-up care: corrective pruning of the torn limbs, cleaning up jagged cuts so the tree can seal, watching for decay and dieback over the following seasons, and giving stressed trees enough water.
First: Safety, Before Anything Else
- Treat every downed power line as live. If a tree or limb is touching a line — or a line is down anywhere near a tree — stay well clear and call your utility company (ComEd in our area) immediately. Then call us. Never try to move a tree off a power line yourself.
- Stay out from under damaged trees. A partially fallen tree or a big limb hung up in a canopy can shift and come down without warning. Keep kids and pets away until the situation is assessed.
- Don’t climb. Storm-damaged trees are unpredictable. Branches under tension can snap back, and split trunks can fail while you’re on them. What looks stable from the ground often isn’t.
Assess the Damage (From the Ground)
Once it’s safe to walk your property, look over each tree from a distance. You’re checking for:
- A new lean that wasn’t there before the storm — especially with soil heaving or roots lifting on one side. A leaning tree with a lifted root plate is at high risk of going over completely.
- Split trunks or major forks. A trunk split down the middle is a structural failure; the tree is unlikely to recover safely.
- Hanging limbs (“widowmakers”). Limbs broken off but caught in the canopy are among the most dangerous storm leftovers. They fall with the next wind — or on their own.
- Large wounds and stripped bark. Losing more than about a third of the canopy or bark usually means the tree won’t recover well.
- Exposed or torn roots. Significant root damage destabilizes the whole tree.
Take photos of everything before any cleanup starts — you’ll want them for insurance.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t run a chainsaw on storm-damaged trees unless you really know what you’re doing. Limbs under tension and compression behave violently when cut — they kick, roll, and spring. Storm cleanup is where most chainsaw injuries happen.
- Don’t “top” a damaged tree to save it. Topping destroys the tree’s structure and creates weakly attached regrowth that’s more dangerous later. A damaged tree either gets properly pruned or gets removed.
- Don’t rush to remove a tree that might recover. Some storm damage looks worse than it is. Minor limb loss on an otherwise healthy tree is a pruning job, not a removal — an in-person assessment sorts this out.
When It’s an Emergency vs. When It Can Wait
Call right away if: a tree is on your house, car, or blocking your driveway; a large limb is hanging over a walkway, play area, or street; a tree is leaning with lifted roots; or anything is near a power line (utility first, then us).
It can wait for a scheduled visit if: scattered small branches on the lawn, minor limb loss with no structural damage, or cosmetic bark wounds on an otherwise solid tree.
Storm damage calls are commonly triaged by urgency — if it’s a genuine hazard, say so when you call.
A Note on Insurance
Most homeowners policies cover tree removal when a tree damages a covered structure (your house, garage, fence) — but typically not for removing a tree that simply fell in the yard without hitting anything. Document everything with photos before cleanup, keep receipts, and check your policy. If an adjuster needs to see the damage, say so when you call so the timing of cleanup can be discussed.
Get Help After the Storm
Storm damage is stressful enough without wrestling it yourself. Call The Best Tree Guys at (708) 665-4874 — describe the damage when you call so it can be triaged — or request help through the online quote form. Serving Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, and the surrounding southwest Chicago suburbs.