The storm has passed. You step outside and find a tree leaning against your roof, another blocking your driveway, and branches scattered across your yard like debris from a war zone. Your heart rate is up, your phone is buzzing with neighbors asking if you’re okay, and you’re trying to figure out what to do first.
If you’re a homeowner in Central Florida, this scenario isn’t hypothetical — it’s an inevitability. Between hurricanes, tropical storms, and the severe afternoon thunderstorms that roll through Pasco, Hernando, and Hillsborough counties every summer, storm-damaged trees are part of life here.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for handling the situation safely and getting your property back to normal as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Stay Safe — Don’t Rush Outside
The immediate aftermath of a severe storm is the most dangerous time. Before you start assessing tree damage, check for a few critical hazards.
Downed power lines are the biggest danger. A tree that’s fallen into power lines — or branches resting on a power line — can energize the ground, the tree, fences, and anything else in contact. Stay at least 35 feet away and call your utility company (Duke Energy, TECO, or your local provider) immediately. Never attempt to remove a tree or branch that’s touching or near a power line.
Structural damage to your home — if a tree has fallen on your roof, don’t go inside the affected area until you’ve confirmed the structure is stable. A tree resting on a compromised roof can shift and cause a collapse.
Hanging branches (sometimes called “hangers” or “widow makers”) are branches that broke but didn’t fall completely. They’re suspended by other branches and can drop without warning. Don’t walk or stand under a damaged tree canopy.
Flooding and standing water can hide downed lines, open holes, and other hazards. Don’t wade through standing water near downed trees.
Step 2: Document Everything Before Touching Anything
Before you move a single branch, pull out your phone and take photos and video of all the damage. Get wide shots showing the full scene and close-ups of specific damage to your home, vehicles, fences, and other structures.
This documentation is critical for your insurance claim. Insurance adjusters want to see the damage as it was immediately after the storm, before any cleanup or repairs. Photograph the trees, the structures they damaged, and the surrounding area from multiple angles.
Note the date, time, and general weather conditions. If you have security cameras or doorbell cameras that captured the event, save that footage as well.
Step 3: Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your homeowners insurance company as soon as practically possible. Most policies cover damage caused by fallen trees, including the cost of removing the tree from the structure it damaged. Here are some key things to know about typical Florida homeowners insurance and tree damage.
Tree falls on your house, garage, fence, or other structure: Generally covered. Your policy typically pays for the structural repair and the cost of removing the tree from the structure.
Tree falls in your yard but doesn’t hit anything: Often not covered, or covered only up to a limited amount. Many policies include a small allowance (commonly $500–$1,000) for tree removal even when no structure is damaged, but this varies.
Your tree falls on your neighbor’s property: Your neighbor’s insurance typically covers damage to their property, regardless of where the tree came from. This surprises many people but is standard in Florida.
Your deductible applies. Remember that your hurricane deductible (often 2–5% of your home’s insured value) is separate from and usually higher than your standard deductible. Whether the hurricane deductible or standard deductible applies depends on whether the storm was officially declared a hurricane.
Document your communications with your insurance company. Note who you spoke with, when, and what was discussed. Save all claim numbers and correspondence.
Step 4: Call a Reputable Tree Service
With your documentation done and insurance notified, it’s time to get a tree service on-site. Here’s how to navigate this process during what is inevitably the busiest time for tree companies.
Expect wait times. After a major storm, every tree service in the region is overwhelmed with calls. If a tree is on your house and you need emergency service, make that clear — most companies triage calls and prioritize structural emergencies. If the tree is blocking your driveway but not threatening a structure, you may wait a few days.
Be wary of “storm chasers.” After every major storm in Florida, out-of-state crews show up offering cheap, fast tree removal. While some are legitimate contractors following the work, many are unlicensed, uninsured, and looking to collect cash and leave. If they cause additional damage to your property or a worker is injured on your land, you’re the one with the liability.
Before hiring anyone, verify that they have a valid business license, carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation (ask for certificates), have an established local presence (not just a truck with out-of-state plates), and provide a written estimate before starting work.
Get a written estimate even in an emergency. Reputable companies will walk the property, assess the scope, and give you a number before starting. Be cautious of anyone who wants to start cutting before agreeing on a price.
Emergency pricing is higher. Tree removal after a storm typically costs 2–3 times the normal rate due to the urgency, hazardous conditions, and overwhelming demand. This is normal market pricing during an emergency, not gouging — the work is genuinely more dangerous and the demand is extraordinary. That said, extremely inflated prices from unknown operators are a red flag.
Step 5: Prioritize the Cleanup
If you have multiple trees or branches down, prioritize the cleanup in this order.
First: Trees on structures or blocking emergency access. A tree on your roof is causing ongoing water damage with every rain. A tree blocking your driveway prevents you from evacuating if another storm approaches.
Second: Trees on vehicles. While costly, vehicle damage is already done. Document it and address it after structural emergencies.
Third: Hanging or unstable trees. Trees that are leaning, partially uprooted, or have hanging branches that threaten structures or walkways should be stabilized or removed before they fall the rest of the way.
Fourth: Trees and debris in the yard. Fallen trees and branches that aren’t threatening anything can wait. They’re inconvenient, but not urgent.
Step 6: Handle the Debris
After a major storm, debris disposal becomes its own challenge. Here’s what to know.
County debris pickup is typically activated after major storms. Pasco, Hernando, and Hillsborough counties all have post-storm debris management programs where crews will pick up vegetative debris placed at the curb. Follow your county’s specific guidelines about how to pile debris (usually separated from household trash, stacked parallel to the road, not blocking drainage).
Debris burning may be an option on larger properties, but burn bans are common immediately after storms when fire resources are stretched thin. Check with the Florida Forest Service before attempting any burning.
Your tree service should handle debris from the trees they remove. Make sure the estimate includes debris removal and hauling — not just cutting the tree down and leaving it in pieces.
What You Can Handle Yourself (And What You Shouldn’t)
Safe for homeowners: Picking up fallen branches and small debris from the yard, raking, clearing walkways and driveways of small branches, and cutting small branches (under 4 inches diameter) with a hand saw.
Leave to the professionals: Anything involving a chainsaw (chainsaws on storm-damaged wood are extremely dangerous due to tension, compression, and unpredictable movement), anything near power lines, any tree leaning on a structure, any tree or branch that’s suspended or under tension, and any work above ground level.
After a storm isn’t the time to discover the limits of your DIY skills. More injuries happen during post-storm cleanup than during the storm itself, and chainsaw injuries are disproportionately common among untrained homeowners working on storm-damaged trees.
Preventing Future Storm Damage
Once the cleanup is done and things return to normal, invest in proactive tree maintenance. Have your remaining trees evaluated for warning signs of failure by a professional. Remove dead wood and hazardous limbs on a regular schedule. Consider removing high-risk trees (dead, decaying, structurally compromised, or poorly positioned species like laurel oak close to your home) before the next storm season.
The cheapest emergency tree removal is the one you never need because you addressed the problem proactively.
Related McGuire services & areas
Storm damage on your property? McGuire responds fast across Central Florida, day or night.
- 24/7 emergency storm cleanup — immediate response for downed and damaged trees.
- professional tree removal — safe removal of hazardous trees after a storm.
