What to Do After a Storm Damages Your Tree (Austin Homeowner Guide)

**Step 1: Stay clear of power lines.** If any part of the tree is touching, near, or leaning toward a power line, do not approach it. Call Austin Energy at 512-322-9100 immediately. Downed lines can energize a tree, the wet ground around it, or a metal fence yards away. Wait for the utility to clear the area before any tree crew touches it.

**Step 2: Assess from a distance.** Walk around the damage — from at least 30 feet away — and photograph everything before touching anything. Get wide shots showing the tree's relationship to your house, garage, fence, cars, and any structures. Get close-ups of the specific damage: broken limbs still hanging, split trunks, lifted root plates. These photos are the single most valuable piece of an insurance claim.

**Step 3: Call your insurance before major cleanup.** If a tree or limb hit a structure — house, roof, garage, fence, car — file the claim first. Most Austin-area homeowner policies cover removal *from* a structure and repair of the structure, but the specifics vary by policy. If a tree fell in your yard and hit nothing, removal is usually out-of-pocket. If a neighbor's tree fell on your property, your insurance is typically the one that pays; ask them to file too so both companies can coordinate.

**Step 4: Tarp what you can safely reach.** If there's a hole in the roof, temporary tarping can prevent thousands of dollars in secondary water damage before the tree crew and roofer arrive. Do NOT climb onto a damaged roof yourself. Ground-level tarping over a broken window is fine.

**Step 5: Get an insured, local tree crew on site fast — but skip the door-knockers.** After a big Austin storm, out-of-state crews and uninsured pickup-truck operators flood neighborhoods offering "we're already in the area, half price today." This is where homeowners get burned. A legitimate crew is insured (ask for a certificate of insurance, not just a verbal claim), gives a written estimate before starting, and doesn't demand a cash deposit up front. Same-day service in Austin is normal after a storm; being pressured to sign on the spot is not.

**Step 6: Know what emergency removal actually costs.** After-hours or same-day storm removal in Austin typically runs 20–50% more than a scheduled job — reasonable, given the risk and crew availability. A medium-size limb through a roof is usually $850–$1,800 with cleanup. A full tree on a structure runs $1,800–$5,000+ depending on size, crane needs, and complexity. If a quote is 2–3× that range and the crew is pressuring you, get a second opinion before signing.

**Step 7: Deal with hanging limbs the same day.** "Widowmakers" — partially broken limbs still hanging in the canopy — are the most dangerous outcome of a storm. Even a light breeze can send them down onto whoever's underneath. If you have visible hanging limbs, don't wait until Monday. That's an emergency call.

**Step 8: Save every receipt and document.** Insurance reimbursement requires paperwork. Save the written estimate, the paid invoice, before-and-after photos, and any communication with the crew. Ask for an itemized invoice showing tree removal, structure clearance, and cleanup as separate lines — this makes the claim easier.