Storm-Damaged Trees in Dawsonville, GA

1First: lines and people

After a storm, the most dangerous tree is the one touching a wire. Georgia Power warns that when trees or limbs tear down power lines, the lines may still be energized in the air or on the ground; assume any downed line is energized, stay away, never touch it or drive over it, and contact the utility immediately. Amicalola EMC tells members to keep tools and equipment at least 10 feet from power lines and never to attempt to trim trees growing near them. Keep children and pets away, and do not let anyone climb into a tree near the lines.

Report the outage or the downed line to the utility on your bill. The table below lists the reporting numbers each utility publishes.

2Second: record the damage

Before anything is cut or moved, take photographs or video of the tree, where it landed and what it damaged. Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner advises filing a claim as soon as possible, keeping copies of all correspondence, noting the date, name and title of everyone you speak with, and keeping a record of your time and expenses.

Policies may require temporary repairs to protect the property from further damage, such as a tarp over a hole in the roof, and should cover those temporary repairs, so keep the receipts. The office warns not to make permanent repairs before the damage is inspected, because a company may deny a claim on that basis.

3Third: understand what insurance pays

The insurance commissioner's disaster guide says standard homeowners coverage for trees is limited. When wind blows a tree down and it damages covered property, such as the house or another structure, the debris removal section pays a capped amount to remove it. If the tree lands without damaging covered property, there is no coverage for removal. The insurance page covers this in more detail; your own policy wording controls.

4Fourth: who cleans up what

Utilities clear trees from their lines to restore power, but the wood is generally the owner's. Georgia Power says trees that fall from natural causes such as strong winds and interfere with power lines will be cut away so power can be restored, and that after storm events any vegetation debris cleanup is the responsibility of the property owner. Once the line is clear, the rest of the tree is a job for the owner and whoever they hire.

Trees that fall across a public road are a different case; report them to the county or city rather than cutting them up in the roadway yourself.

5Safety while you wait

Keep people and pets away from any tree that is cracked, hung up in another tree, leaning on a structure or touching a wire. Do not stand under hanging limbs, and do not try to pull a tree off a roof or a line yourself. Mark the area with tape or cones if you can do so from a safe distance. If a tree is resting on the house, move people out of the rooms underneath until it is removed. Shut off the gas or water only if you know how and the shutoff is safely reachable. Write down what happened and when, take photographs from a safe distance, and keep a list of anyone you call. If you are hiring help, describe the hazard clearly so the provider can bring the right equipment and crew.

6Keep a record

Start a single folder, paper or digital, for the job. Put in it the photos, the quotes, any permit or encroachment approval, the utility's reference number if you reported an outage, the insurer's claim number and the names of everyone you dealt with. Note dates. After the work, add the final invoice and photos of the finished site. A record like this helps with an insurance claim, with a question from the county or city, and with a buyer years from now who asks why a tree is gone or where a stump was ground.

7Prepare for the next storm

Walk the property after leaf drop, when the structure of each tree is easiest to see, and note trees with dead tops, large dead limbs, cracks, cavities, mushrooms at the base or a new lean. Look up for limbs hanging over the roof, the driveway and the service line to the house. Keep the utility's outage numbers, your insurer's claim line and your policy number where you can reach them without power. Photograph your house and yard now so you have a record of how things looked before a storm. If a tree worries you, have it looked at in calm weather, when scheduling is easier and there is time to compare quotes.

8Fifth: the debris

Vegetative storm debris needs a Georgia Forestry Commission burn permit before it is burned; call 1-800-GA-TREES or apply online. Hand-piled leaves and limbs from routine yard work do not, but storm debris is listed separately. See the burn permit page. Chipping and hauling avoid the permit question.

When you are ready for help, the Free Quote Request passes your details to an independent provider. Read the hiring checklist before signing anything, especially with someone who knocks on the door after a storm.