# Fallen tree after a storm: what to do first

Updated: 2026-10-24 · https://pros411.com/en/guides/landscaping/fallen-tree-after-storm

## Short answer

Stay away from the tree and anything touching it until you know there are no power lines in it. Treat every downed wire as live and stay at least 35 feet away. Call 911 if a line is down or the tree hit the house, then your power company. Keep kids and pets inside. Take photos from a safe spot for insurance. A tree service removes it once the line is cleared.

> Safety first: Treat every downed wire as live, even if it is not sparking. Stay at least 35 feet away and keep others back. Never touch the tree, a fence or a puddle the wire touches. If the tree hit the house and you smell gas or see a sagging ceiling, get out and call 911.

## What to do when a tree falls in your yard after a storm

![Cartoon tree knocked down in a yard after a storm, with a downed power line sparking on the grass](https://pros411.com/img/guias/fallen-tree-after-storm.webp)

1. **A tree is down: look for wires first.** Before you walk outside, look from a window. A wire under the branches or across the yard can be live even if it is quiet.
2. **Stay at least 35 feet away.** Electricity can spread through wet ground around a wire. Keep kids and pets inside, and do not touch the tree, the fence or puddles near it.
3. **Call 911 and your power company.** Call 911 if a line is down, the tree hit the house or someone is hurt. Then report the line to your power company.
4. **Take photos from far away.** Photograph the tree, the damage and the roots from a safe distance. Your insurance company will ask for them.
5. **Pros cut it up and haul it away.** Once the power company clears the line, a tree service cuts it into pieces. A trunk under tension can snap back, so this is not a chainsaw job for you.

## Insurance and cleanup

Call your homeowner’s insurance early. A tree that damages the house, a garage or a fence is often covered, including removal. A tree that falls in the yard without hitting anything often is not. Keep your photos and the receipts for tarps or emergency work.

## What not to do

- Do not use a chainsaw on a fallen tree. Bent trunks and branches store energy and can whip back.
- Do not climb onto the roof to check for damage after a storm.
- Do not hire the first crew that knocks on your door. Ask for proof of insurance and a written estimate.
- Do not run a generator inside the house or the garage if the power is out.

## When to call a landscaper

- Any wire is down or touching the tree.
- The tree hit the house, a car or a fence.
- The tree leans on another tree or hangs where it could still fall.
- Roots lifted out of the ground near the house or the driveway.

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## Frequently asked questions

### What should I do if a tree falls on a power line?

Stay at least 35 feet away and keep everyone else back. Call 911 and your power company. Do not touch the tree or anything near the wire.

### Who is responsible for a fallen tree?

Usually the owner of the property where it lands handles the cleanup, through their own insurance. If the tree was clearly dead and the owner knew, the rules may change. Ask your insurance company.

### Does homeowners insurance cover a fallen tree?

Often yes, if it damaged a covered structure like the house or a fence. Removing a tree that fell in the yard without damage is often not covered. Check your policy.

### Can I cut up a fallen tree myself?

Small branches on the ground and away from wires, yes. Large trunks, and trees on houses or on other trees, need a pro, because the wood can be under tension and snap.

### How far should I stay from a downed power line?

At least 35 feet, and more if the ground is wet. Assume every downed wire is live, even if it is not sparking.