Published February 15, 2026 · Updated May 1, 2026
After storm tree damage: first, get everyone away from the damaged area. Do not go near any tree that is still partially attached, leaning on a structure, or potentially touching power lines. Call 911 if a live wire is involved. Then call your homeowner's insurance to open a claim before any work begins. Then call (864) 913-3978 — the emergency line is answered 24/7.
Immediate Safety Steps After a Storm Tree Falls
Do not go near a tree that is leaning on your structure — the weight distribution is unpredictable and moving anything can cause a secondary collapse. Do not go into rooms where the ceiling is bowed, cracked, or showing evidence of structural loading from the tree. Do not attempt to move the tree yourself — chainsaws in the hands of people who don't understand tension and compression in a loaded tree cause serious injuries every year. If the tree has brought down a utility line, stay at least 30 feet away and call 911. Wait for the utility company to de-energize the line before anyone approaches.
How to Handle the Insurance Claim After Storm Tree Damage
Call your homeowner's insurance company to open a claim before any work begins. The adjuster needs to see the damage as it is. Document the damage with photographs from a safe distance before any cleanup starts. Your insurance company will send an adjuster or ask for documentation. This is why Martin Tree and Turf Care provides written documentation on every storm damage job — cause of damage (storm, wind, lightning), the damage observed, and the work performed. Keep all invoices and documentation.
What Storm Damage Insurance in SC Actually Covers
In most cases, South Carolina homeowner's insurance covers storm cleanup when a tree fell due to a storm and landed on a covered structure (house, attached garage, fence, outbuilding). If a tree fell in an open yard without hitting a structure, most SC policies do not cover the cleanup cost. The distinction matters — do not assume coverage. Call your insurer before work begins and ask specifically what your policy covers.
When to Call for Emergency vs. Scheduled Cleanup
Emergency response is for active hazards: tree on a structure, tree leaning on a structure, hanging limbs directly over occupied areas, or any situation where further failure is imminent. Schedule cleanup for fallen trees in open yards, debris on the lawn, and damage where the immediate danger has passed. Our emergency line is answered 24/7 for active hazards — (864) 913-3978.
Immediate Steps After Storm Tree Damage
What our arborist sees on site
The most common mistake we see after a storm is homeowners cutting the tree themselves before the insurance adjuster arrives. Once you've moved the tree, the adjuster can't document the original damage. Wait. Photograph everything. Then call your insurer before you call anyone with a chainsaw.
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