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Storm Damage Tree Safety Checklist
A tree down after a storm can be more dangerous than it looks, especially near power lines. This checklist covers what to do in the first few minutes, what to avoid, and when to call a professional versus your utility company.
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If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 first. This checklist is general safety information, not a substitute for emergency services. If you see a downed power line, treat it as live and call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938 (or your local utility) in addition to 911.
In the first few minutes
- Assume every downed line is live. Stay at least 10 feet away — roughly one tree length — and keep children and pets back too. Don't touch, drive over, or drive under a low-hanging line.
- Don't try to move branches or debris touching a power line yourself, even with a non-metal tool. Call it in and wait for the utility company.
- Watch the canopy, not just the ground. Broken limbs can hang in a damaged tree for days and fall without warning. Stay out from under the tree until it's been assessed.
- If a tree fell on your house, don't go back in until you're sure there's no gas leak or exposed wiring. If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave and call your gas utility from outside.
- Keep everyone clear of the damaged area, including kids curious about the mess, until someone experienced has looked at it.
Before any cleanup starts
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved or cut, for your insurance claim.
- Skip the DIY chainsaw work on large limbs, leaning trees, or anything tangled in lines. Storm-damaged wood is often under tension and can kick back or shift unpredictably — this is a job for a professional, even for experienced homeowners.
- Not every damaged tree needs to come down. Some storm damage is just broken branches that can be pruned; a full removal isn't always necessary. An in-person look is the only way to tell.
Once the immediate danger has passed
- Contact your homeowner's insurance provider to start a claim before cleanup changes the scene.
- Check whether a removal permit applies — even storm-damaged trees can be subject to city rules in some cases. See our tree removal permit guide for Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, and Johns Creek.
- Call to schedule an assessment. Emergency availability and response time are confirmed by phone — not published on this site.
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Sources
General safety guidance above is consistent with the following official resources, which cover downed power line safety and storm-damaged tree care in more depth: