Storm Damage Tree Cleanup: How Arborists Respond in Emergencies
02.13.2026
Are you facing dangerous storm damage right now in Indiana?
Get 24/7 emergency response from certified arborists: (317) 420-8548
When storms hit unexpectedly, they can cause fallen trees, downed power lines, and debris-covered properties. It’s hard to know where to start after the storm has passed.
This guide walks you through immediate safety steps, helps you assess the damage, and shows you when professional help is needed.
At Townsend Arborcare, our ISA-certified arborists provide 24/7 storm response and restoration throughout Indianapolis and surrounding areas, bringing the expertise and equipment needed to restore safety and peace of mind.
Safety Precautions After Storms
Some storm damage situations shouldn’t be addressed without a trained professional. Before attempting cleanup on your own, it’s important to understand what requires expert intervention.
You should never approach the following without professional help.
- Trees on or near power lines: Assume all downed lines are live. These lines can energize the ground, trees, and nearby puddles.
- Trees leaning on structures: Houses or garages that are supporting the weight of a tree are unstable and can shift without any warning.
- Large hanging branches: Branches hanging on by a thread are under high tension and can fall suddenly.
- Trees with exposed roots: When roots lift from the soil, the tree becomes unpredictable. Trees can fall or snap back violently and without warning.
DIY Cleanup vs. Professional Help
What can you do safely?
Establish a safety perimeter at least 1.5 times the tree’s height. For example, with a 40-foot tree, keep everyone at least 60 feet away.
Document everything from safe distances. Take photos and videos from multiple angles—this documentation is crucial for insurance claims. Get wide shots showing full scope and close-ups of specific damage. Do this now, before conditions change.
What’s not DIY-friendly?
Homeowners should never attempt the following on their own:
- Chainsaw work above shoulder height
- Removing branches from structures
- Any work near power lines
- Climbing damaged trees
- Operating unfamiliar equipment
Understanding Your Damage
Once you’ve secured the area, you can assess the severity. Not all damage requires the same urgency, but nearly all benefit from professional evaluation.
Critical Damage (Immediate Professional Response Required)
- Uprooted or severely leaning trees (more than 15–20 degrees)
- Major trunk splits or cracks
- Trees on structures, vehicles, or blocking critical access
- 50%+ canopy loss
- Root plates visibly lifting from soil
These pose immediate danger. Structural integrity is compromised, and conditions can deteriorate rapidly with additional bad weather.
Moderate Damage (Assessment Needed Within 24–48 Hours)
- Large broken branches still partially attached
- Deep bark wounds exposing inner wood
- Trees blocking driveways or access
- Numerous broken branches
While not immediately life-threatening, these warrant prompt evaluation. What appears stable may not be.
Minor Damage (Potentially Manageable)
- Small branches on the ground (under 2 inches in diameter)
- Scattered leaf debris
- Superficial bark scrapes
Even minor damage can hide serious issues. A broken branch might indicate root damage or compromised structural integrity only trained eyes can identify.
Tree Removal vs. Tree Recovery
Some damaged trees can be saved through expert pruning, cabling, bracing, and proper aftercare. Others are so compromised that removal is the only safe option. A split trunk might be stabilized with professional cabling; the same split might indicate the tree is beyond saving if decay or previous damage is present.
This determination requires understanding tree biology, structural mechanics, and risk assessment beyond visual inspection. Certified arborists evaluate not just visible damage, but what it reveals about root health, structural integrity, and long-term viability.
How Arborists Deliver Storm Cleanup
ISA certification represents specialized education in tree biology and structure beyond operating equipment. Certified arborists understand which injuries trees can recover from and which make them irreparable hazards. This knowledge directly affects whether trees can be saved through pruning and support or must be removed for safety.
Rapid Response and Expert Assessment
When you contact Townsend Arborcare, you’re getting ISA-certified arborists with specialized storm damage training, not general tree service. We maintain 24/7 availability, because emergencies don’t wait for business hours.
Our assessment goes beyond obvious damage. We evaluate your entire property for hidden hazards: trees with root damage that look stable, branches hanging by bark fibers, structural compromises that will fail in the next wind event. This identifies both immediate dangers and potential future problems.
Every assessment includes written documentation with photos, which is exactly what insurance adjusters need. We provide clear, detailed reports that support your claim while giving you transparent information about necessary work.
Professional Execution and Specialized Equipment
Our cranes safely remove trees from structures without additional damage. Bucket trucks allow controlled work at height. Industrial chippers process debris efficiently. Rigging systems lower huge trunk sections through tight spaces without damaging property.
We coordinate with utility companies for power-line situations, understand cutting sequences that prevent dangerous movement, and establish escape routes and danger zones. These protocols prevent problems rather than react to them.
Our approach prioritizes emergency hazards first, followed by damaged trees that may fail soon, and, finally, cleanup and restoration. This ensures safety is restored quickly while managing scope efficiently.
Preventing Future Storm Damage
Storm damage offers an opportunity to prepare better for the future. Proactive care dramatically reduces damage severity and can prevent some damage entirely.
Annual Certified Arborist Inspections
Tree risk assessments identify structural weaknesses, decay, root issues, and unbalanced canopies before storms arrive. Addressing these issues during calm weather is safer, less expensive, and more effective than an emergency response.
Strategic Pruning
Expert pruning reduces wind resistance and removes weak branches before storms tear them off. This maintains tree health while reducing risk—a balance requiring professional expertise.
Hazardous Tree Removal
Removing troublesome trees before storms eliminates the worst risks entirely. Removing compromised trees during calm weather is far safer and usually less expensive than emergency removal after failure.
Cabling and Bracing Systems
Tree support systems can preserve valuable trees with structural concerns, allowing them to remain safely on your property.
Indiana Storm Considerations
Our region experiences severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, occasional tornadoes, ice storms, and heavy snow. Some common Indiana species, like silver maples, Bradford pears, and other shallow-rooted trees, are particularly vulnerable. When replacing storm-damaged trees, choosing species with strong wood, good structure, and appropriate storm resistance makes future damage less likely.
Storm Damage Response for Indiana Residents
At Townsend Arborcare, storm damage response is a core capability. Our certified arborists bring Indiana storm experience, specialized equipment, and safety protocols to your emergency demands. We provide rapid response for immediate help, comprehensive assessment to understand your situation, and strategic execution that restores safety while protecting your investments.
Are you facing dangerous storm damage right now in Indiana?
Get 24/7 emergency response from certified arborists: (317) 420-8548