What to Do Before Emergency Tree Removal Crews Arrive After a Storm
A severe storm can leave a fallen tree on your property in minutes. Knowing what to do before emergency tree removal crews arrive can protect your family, your home, and your insurance claim. Central Iowa, including the Ames, IA, area, sees its share of powerful derecho storms, high straight-line winds, and severe thunderstorms that can topple even healthy, well-established trees. The steps you take in those first minutes matter more than most homeowners realize.
Stay Away from the Fallen Tree
Distance is your first line of defense after storm damage. A fallen or heavily leaning tree may continue to shift, drop additional branches, or pull on root systems that are still under tension. What looks stable can move without warning.
Keep everyone, including pets and neighbors, at least two full tree lengths away from the impact zone. This is especially true in Ames, IA, where mature oaks, elms, and silver maples are common in older neighborhoods like Old Town and around the ISU campus. Their canopies can extend far beyond where the trunk landed.
Do not attempt to cut, lift, or move any part of the tree yourself. Amateur chainsaw work on a tree under tension is one of the most common causes of serious injury after a storm.
Check for Downed Utility Lines Immediately
Downed power lines are a life-threatening hazard that must be treated as live until a utility professional confirms otherwise. If a tree has fallen near or across any wires, assume those wires are energized.
Do not touch the tree, the wires, or any metal fencing, gutters, or other objects that may be in contact with either. Keep vehicles away from the area as well. Call MidAmerican Energy or your local utility provider right away, then contact the city if the tree is touching a street line. Story County residents can reach Iowa State University's surrounding utility districts for guidance specific to the Ames area.
Do not re-enter your home through any door or garage that is in contact with, or directly under, a tree that may be touching a power line.
Document Everything Before Touching Anything
Photo and video documentation may be the most valuable thing you do while waiting for an emergency tree removal crew. Insurance adjusters rely heavily on initial-damage photos to process claims quickly and fairly.
Walk the full perimeter of the damage, keeping a safe distance, and photograph or record the following:
▸ The position of the fallen tree relative to your house, fence, or vehicle.
▸ Any visible structural damage to roofing, siding, or windows.
▸ Contact points where the tree is resting on your structure.
▸ Surrounding ground damage, including displaced soil or root systems.
▸ Any secondary hazards such as broken branches still in the canopy overhead.
Do this before any cleanup begins. Once debris is moved, documenting the original damage becomes much harder. Save all files with timestamps and back them up to cloud storage immediately.
Contact your homeowner's insurance company as soon as it is safe to do so. Most policies cover storm-related tree removal when the tree has damaged a covered structure. Keep all receipts for any temporary protective measures, such as tarps or boarding, as these costs may be reimbursable.
Secure the Interior of Your Home if There Is Structural Damage
If a tree has come through your roof or broken a window, moisture is now your second emergency. Rain and humidity can cause significant secondary damage inside your home within hours.
Use tarps, plastic sheeting, or plywood to cover openings, but only if you can safely reach the affected area from inside the house. Do not go onto the roof while a tree is resting on it. Otherwise, wait for professionals.
Turn off electricity to the affected rooms at your breaker panel if water has entered the home near any outlets or fixtures. If you are unsure, leave the home and wait for guidance from a licensed electrician before re-entering.
What Should I Do if a Tree Falls on My Car?
Do not attempt to move the vehicle or the tree. Call your auto insurance provider as well as your homeowner's insurance. Comprehensive auto coverage typically handles storm-related vehicle damage separately. Document the vehicle damage with the same thoroughness you applied to your home.
Is It Safe to Go Back Inside After a Tree Falls on My House?
Only re-enter your home if utility lines are confirmed safe and the roof, walls, and foundation show no visible damage. When in doubt, wait outside or at a neighbor's home until a professional has assessed the structure.
Call for Professional Emergency Tree Removal Serving Ames, IA
When the crew arrives, they will assess the safest removal method, equipment needs, and the order of operations. Having your documentation ready and the area cleared of bystanders will help them get to work faster.
For emergency tree removal serving Ames, IA, and Story County, Pitts Lawn & Tree Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can reach the team at (515) 661-0753 for immediate assistance, request a free estimate through the contact page, or learn more about what the crew handles on the emergency tree removal service page.
Find
Pitts Lawn & Tree Service on Google Maps to confirm location and read reviews from homeowners across central Iowa.
