Storm Damage: What to Do if a Tree Falls on Your Property

Calgary’s weather is anything but predictable. Sudden thunderstorms, heavy snowfalls, and powerful chinook winds can strike with little warning, leaving broken branches—or even uprooted trees—behind. When storm damage occurs, quick and informed action protects your family, your property, and your trees’ long-term health.

But what should you do immediately after storm damage? The answer is simple: prioritize safety and call a professional.

Step 1: Stay Safe Around Storm-Damaged Trees

Storm-damaged trees can be dangerous, even if they don’t look like it at first glance. Before doing anything else, take a few key safety precautions:

• Avoid Downed Power Lines: If a tree is touching or near electrical wires, stay clear and call your utility company immediately. Power can travel through branches, the ground, or even standing water.

• Keep Your Distance: Hanging branches, cracked trunks, or partially uprooted trees may collapse without warning. Stay well back until the site is secured.

• Don’t Use Chainsaws Yourself: Many injuries occur when homeowners attempt DIY storm cleanup. Without training, it’s difficult to predict how limbs under tension will react when cut.

Your first priority should always be protecting people and property—not rushing into cleanup.

Step 2: Assess the Situation from a Safe Distance

Once immediate hazards are identified, you can begin to evaluate the scope of the damage—without approaching the tree directly. Ask yourself:

• Has the tree lost large limbs or main branches?

• Is the trunk cracked, split, or leaning dangerously?

• Are there broken branches lodged high in the canopy?

• Did the storm expose roots or shift the soil around the base?

These observations help you communicate clearly with professionals when you call for help.

Step 3: Call an ISA Certified Arborist

When it comes to storm damage, calling an ISA Certified Arborist is the safest and smartest decision. Arborists have the training, equipment, and insurance coverage to handle hazardous situations.

A professional will:

1. Stabilize Hazards – Safely remove hanging limbs, secure unstable sections, and make the site safe for you and your family.

2. Evaluate Tree Health – Determine whether the tree can recover or if it poses too great a risk.

3. Perform Proper Pruning – Make clean cuts that help wounds heal naturally, reducing the risk of decay or disease.

4. Provide Recovery Treatments – Recommend fertilization, watering, or pest management to support stressed trees.

5. Advise on Removal if Necessary – In cases where a tree is beyond saving, arborists perform removals safely and in compliance with Calgary bylaws.

This science-based approach gives you clarity and peace of mind during a stressful time.

Step 4: Act Quickly to Protect Tree Health

Storm damage doesn’t just create immediate hazards—it also leaves trees vulnerable to long-term decline. Torn bark, exposed wood, and broken branches provide easy entry points for pests and fungal diseases common in Calgary, such as black knot or root rot.

Quick professional care reduces these risks by:

• Cleaning and sealing wounds with proper cuts.

• Removing damaged limbs that could spread decay.

• Strengthening the tree’s structure through selective pruning.

• Providing soil or root treatments to restore stability and vigor.

The sooner an arborist intervenes, the better the chances your tree will recover and continue thriving.

Why DIY Cleanup Is Risky

It’s natural to want to clean up after a storm, but DIY attempts often create more danger than they solve. Common mistakes include:

• Improper Cuts: Cutting in the wrong place can weaken the tree, cause decay, or create unstable regrowth.

• Chainsaw Accidents: Chainsaws are powerful tools that require training—especially when dealing with limbs under tension.

• Falling Hazards: Without proper rigging, branches can swing unpredictably, damaging property or injuring people.

• Hidden Risks: Internal decay or root damage may not be obvious, making DIY efforts unpredictable and dangerous.

Tree work is consistently ranked among the world’s most dangerous jobs. Without the right training and equipment, the risks aren’t worth it.

Long-Term Prevention: Reducing Storm Damage Risks

While no tree is completely storm-proof, regular maintenance greatly reduces the risk of serious damage. Preventive care from a Certified Arborist may include:

• Pruning Weak or Dead Branches before storms can break them.

• Cabling or Bracing vulnerable limbs for added support.

• Inspecting Roots and Soil Conditions to ensure stability.

• Monitoring for Disease or Pests that weaken trees over time.

By investing in preventive care, you prepare your trees to better withstand Calgary’s unpredictable weather.

The Bottom Line: Professional Care After Storms

Storm damage can be stressful, but knowing what to do next makes all the difference.

1. Stay safe and keep clear of downed power lines.

2. Assess damage from a distance.

3. Call an ISA Certified Arborist for professional help.

4. Act quickly to protect your tree’s health and your property.

Quick action matters. With professional care, many storm-damaged trees can recover—and your property remains safe and beautiful for years to come.