Hunter storms can bring a big tree down fast. One minute it is standing, the next it is across the driveway, on the roof, or tangled in the power lines. When that happens, the order you do things in matters, both for safety and for any insurance claim that follows.
This is a general guide to the sensible steps after storm damage. For anything involving power lines or structural damage to your home, treat it as an emergency and get the right people out.
First, make the area safe
Before anything else, look after people:
- Keep everyone well clear of the fallen or leaning tree, especially anything touching or near power lines.
- Treat all fallen lines as live. If a tree is on power lines, stay back and call your electricity network provider or emergency services.
- Check for hidden damage. A partly fallen tree can still be under load and shift without warning.
- Call the SES on 132 500 for storm and flood help when a tree threatens your home, or triple zero if life is in danger.
If a tree is on the power lines, do not go near it. Treat every fallen line as live and call for help.
What not to do
The temptation after a storm is to grab a chainsaw and start clearing. With a storm-damaged tree that is a real risk. A tree under tension can spring or roll when cut, and a partly fallen tree can drop the rest of its weight unpredictably. Storm work is some of the most dangerous tree work there is, and it is best left to a crew set up for it.
Document the damage
Before the clean-up starts, and once it is safe to do so, take clear photos and video of the damage from a few angles. Capture the tree, any damage to your home, fences or vehicles, and the wider scene. Keep any quotes and invoices for the removal and repairs. This record is what supports an insurance claim later.
How insurance usually works
Every policy is different, so the only reliable answer comes from reading your own policy or asking your insurer. As a general pattern, home and contents policies often cover storm damage caused by a fallen tree, such as damage to the house or a fence. The removal of the tree itself can be treated differently, and a healthy tree that simply fell in a storm may be handled differently to one that was already dead or neglected.
A few sensible habits:
- Contact your insurer early and ask what your policy covers.
- Ask whether they need a quote or an assessment before work starts.
- Keep all photos, quotes and receipts together.
- Ask whether an arborist report would help support the claim. We can arrange an arborist report if needed.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Your insurer and your policy wording are what actually decide a claim.
When to call for emergency help
Call for urgent, professional tree help when a tree is on your house or roof, hung up and partly fallen, blocking your only access, or near power lines once the network provider has made the lines safe. These are not jobs to tackle yourself.
Storm clean-up in the Hunter
We handle storm-damaged and fallen trees across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the greater Hunter, from making a dangerous tree safe to full clean-up. See our emergency and storm removal service, or the areas we cover.
If a storm has left you with a tree down, get in touch and we will help you sort it out safely.