Rochester gets its share of severe weather — ice storms, microbursts, heavy snow loads, and summer thunderstorms can all cause serious tree damage. Here's what to do if it happens to your property.
Step 1: Stay Safe and Stay Away
Don't go near a fallen tree, especially if power lines are involved. Even lines that appear dead can be energized. If a tree is on your house, don't go inside the affected rooms. If you smell gas or see sparks, leave the property and call 911.
Step 2: Document the Damage
Before anything gets moved or cleaned up, take photos and video from multiple angles. Document damage to the tree, your house, fence, vehicles, landscaping — everything. Your insurance company will need this documentation, and it's much harder to reconstruct after the fact.
Step 3: Call Your Insurance Company
Report the damage to your homeowners insurance as soon as possible. In most cases, if a tree falls due to a storm and damages a structure (house, garage, fence, shed), the removal and repair are covered. If a tree falls but doesn't hit anything, coverage varies by policy. File the claim early — there are often time limits.
Step 4: Call a Professional Tree Service
Storm damage removal is not a DIY job. Hanging branches under tension, partially uprooted trees, and trees on structures are all extremely dangerous to work with. A professional crew has the equipment, training, and insurance to handle these situations safely.
Be cautious of storm chasers — out-of-town crews that show up after storms offering cheap prices. They're often uninsured, do sloppy work, and disappear if there's a problem. Hire a local, insured company you can verify.
Step 5: Save the Damaged Trees You Can
Not every storm-damaged tree needs to come down. Trees that have lost less than 50% of their canopy and have no major trunk damage can often recover with proper pruning. We'll give you an honest assessment of what can be saved and what should come down.
We're Here When You Need Us
Spartan Tree provides 24/7 emergency tree service across the greater Rochester area. We respond fast, secure your property, and provide documentation for insurance claims. Call any time — day or night.