Chattanooga gets hit by strong spring thunderstorms most years, the odd ice storm in winter, and every so often a tornado outbreak like the ones in April 2011 and Easter 2020. When trees come down, the first hour matters. Here’s what to do, in order.
1. Make everyone safe
If anyone is hurt, call 911. Get people out of any part of the house where a tree has come through the roof, because it can shift as it settles. Keep kids and pets inside and away from the yard until you’ve checked for lines.
2. Stay away from downed lines
Treat every downed line as live, including phone and cable lines tangled with power lines. Stay at least 30 feet away. Report it to EPB at (423) 648-1372 if you’re in their area, or to your own utility. Don’t let anyone, including a tree crew, touch a tree resting on a line until the utility says it’s safe.
3. Shut off utilities if the house is damaged
If a tree has broken into the house and you can do it safely, shut off gas, water and power at the main. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company from outside.
4. Photograph everything
Before anything gets moved, take wide shots showing the tree on the house, close-ups of the damage, the stump or root plate, damaged fences and cars, and any water coming inside. Add a short video walking around the property. Your insurer will want all of it.
5. Call your insurance company
Open a claim right away. Ask whether they need an adjuster to see the tree in place before it’s removed, and whether they have preferred contractors. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage, like tarping a hole in the roof, so keep receipts.
6. Get a tree crew you can trust
After a big storm, every crew in Hamilton County gets busy, and out-of-town storm chasers start knocking on doors. Before you hire anyone:
- Get the price in writing
- Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and workers’ compensation
- Don’t pay the full amount up front
- Be very careful about signing over your insurance claim to a contractor
Call (423) 275-4820 and we’ll connect you with a local crew that handles emergency tree removal.
7. Check the trees that are still standing
Trees that survived the storm can still be damaged. Look for:
- A new lean, or soil cracked or lifted on one side of the base
- Split trunks or cracks where big limbs join the trunk
- Broken limbs hung up in the canopy, which crews call hangers
- A top snapped off
- Bark torn away in long strips
Any of these deserves a look from a crew before the next storm. Damaged trees are the ones most likely to fail next time.
What not to do
- Don’t climb onto the roof to cut a tree off it
- Don’t run a chainsaw on a trunk or limb under tension unless you know what you’re doing. Bent wood can spring back with enough force to kill.
- Don’t pile debris against the house or on top of the drain field
Need a tree crew around Chattanooga?
Call (423) 275-4820 or send a few details. We’ll match you with an independent local crew for a free written estimate, usually the same day.