Southern Maryland takes serious hits from hurricanes, nor’easters, and severe thunderstorms from April through October every year. I have been removing storm-damaged trees across Charles County, Calvert County, St. Mary’s County, and King George County since 2014, and I have seen what these storms do to properties — trees through roofs, trunks snapped across driveways, massive oaks uprooted and leaning against power lines. It is never a situation anyone wants to deal with.
Here is exactly what to do when a tree is damaged or falls on your property, how to handle insurance, and when a damaged tree can be saved versus when it needs to come down.
What to Do Immediately After Storm Damage
When a storm rolls through and you hear that unmistakable crack and crash, the adrenaline kicks in. I have had hundreds of homeowners call me in a panic. Here is the step-by-step process I walk every single one of them through:
Step 1: Ensure Safety First
Get everyone inside and away from windows if the storm is still active. If a tree has hit your house and caused structural damage — meaning the roof is compromised, walls are damaged, or you smell gas — evacuate immediately and call 911. Do not go back inside until the structure has been cleared. I have seen trees punch through roofs and leave the remaining structure unstable. Your family’s safety matters more than anything else on this list.
Step 2: Stay Away from Downed Power Lines
This is the one that keeps me up at night. A downed power line can energize the ground around it for a radius of 35 feet or more. You cannot tell by looking at it whether a line is live. If you see a downed line — or a tree on a line — stay far away and call your utility provider immediately.
- SMECO customers (most of Southern Maryland): Report outages at 1-888-440-3311 or at smeco.coop
- BGE customers: Report at 1-877-778-2222
Do not touch any tree or branch that is in contact with a power line. Do not attempt to move debris near downed lines. Wait for the utility company to de-energize the line before anyone goes near it.
Step 3: Document Everything with Photos Before Any Cleanup
This step is critical for your insurance claim and it is the one most homeowners skip in the chaos of the moment. Before you touch anything, before you move a single branch, pull out your phone and document everything:
- Wide-angle shots showing the full extent of damage
- Close-up photos of where the tree hit the structure
- Photos of the root ball if the tree uprooted
- Photos of the trunk and where it broke
- Video walkthrough of all damage
- Photos of any damage to vehicles, fences, sheds, or other property
I tell every customer: take more photos than you think you need. Insurance adjusters were not there during the storm. Your photos are your evidence. Date-stamp them. Take them from multiple angles. This documentation directly affects how much your insurance company will cover.
Step 4: Call 855TREEMAN for Emergency Response
Once everyone is safe and you have documented the damage, call our 24/7 emergency tree service line at (855) 873-3626. Tell us:
- Is the tree on a structure?
- Is it near power lines?
- Is it blocking road or driveway access?
- Is there immediate danger of further collapse?
We prioritize calls based on hazard level. Trees on occupied structures and trees on power lines go to the front of the line. After a major storm, our crews are deployed continuously until every emergency call is handled. Our stump grinding service removes what’s left after storm cleanup — wood chips can be used as mulch or we can haul them away. Contact us any time to report storm damage or schedule an assessment.
Step 5: Contact Your Insurance Company
File your claim as soon as possible. Most policies require prompt notification. Have your photos ready, know the date and type of storm, and be prepared to provide a written estimate from a licensed tree service. More on the insurance process below.
Types of Storm Damage to Trees
Not all storm damage is the same, and the type of damage determines whether the tree can be saved and what the removal process looks like. Here are the six types of storm damage I see most often in Southern Maryland:
Blown Over (Uprooted)
The entire tree has tipped over, root ball and all. This is common with shallow-rooted species and in areas with saturated soil — which describes a lot of Southern Maryland waterfront and low-lying properties. Uprooted trees almost always require full removal. The root system is destroyed, and even if the tree could theoretically be stood back up, the success rate is extremely low for mature trees.
Crown Twist
High winds can twist the upper canopy, breaking branches and tearing the crown apart while the trunk stays intact. If less than 50% of the crown is damaged and the trunk is sound, the tree may be saveable with corrective pruning by a certified arborist. Crown twist damage is common with broad-canopy hardwoods like oaks and maples.
Stem Failure
The trunk itself has snapped. This is final — a tree with a broken trunk requires removal. Stem failure is common with trees that have internal decay that was not visible before the storm exposed it. I have cut into trunks that looked solid from the outside but were completely hollow inside.
Branch Failure
Individual limbs have broken off but the main trunk and root system are intact. This is the most treatable form of storm damage. Proper pruning cuts by a qualified arborist can clean up the damage and preserve the tree’s structure. However, large hanging branches — what we call “widow makers” — are extremely dangerous and should only be handled by professionals.
Root Failure
The tree is leaning significantly but has not fully tipped over. The root plate has partially lifted on one side. This is deceptive because the tree looks like it might be fine, but the compromised root system means it can fail completely at any time — sometimes days or weeks after the storm, often without warning. Root failure usually requires removal.
Lightning Strike
Lightning can travel down a tree’s trunk and blow off strips of bark, split the trunk, or kill the tree’s cambium layer. Some trees survive lightning strikes, but many do not. A tree hit by lightning should be assessed by an arborist within a few days. If the trunk is split or more than 50% of the bark is stripped, the tree likely will not survive.
When a Damaged Tree Can Be Saved vs. Must Be Removed
After every storm, I get the same question: “Can we save it?” Here is how I make that call as a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert:
A storm-damaged tree may be saveable if:
- Less than 50% of the crown is damaged or missing
- The trunk is intact with no splits, cracks, or exposed heartwood
- The root system is firmly in the ground with no heaving or lean
- The tree species is resilient (oaks recover better than pines)
- The tree was healthy before the storm — no prior decay or disease
A storm-damaged tree needs to be removed if:
- More than 50% of the crown is gone
- The trunk is split, cracked, or snapped
- The tree has developed a severe lean it did not have before the storm
- The root plate is lifted or roots are visibly broken
- The tree is a hazardous species in a compromised state near a structure
- Internal decay is exposed by the damage
My strong recommendation: Always have a certified arborist assess storm-damaged trees before making a decision. What looks minor from the ground can be serious, and what looks catastrophic might actually be recoverable. A professional assessment takes 15 minutes and can save you thousands in unnecessary removal — or prevent a delayed failure from a tree that looked stable but was not.
How to File an Insurance Claim for Tree Damage in Maryland
Storm damage tree removal and insurance claims go hand in hand, and I have helped hundreds of Southern Maryland homeowners navigate this process. Here is what you need to know:
What Maryland Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers
Your homeowners insurance generally covers tree removal when:
- The tree fell due to a covered peril — wind, lightning, hail, ice, or the weight of snow
- The tree damaged a covered structure — your house, garage, shed, fence, or other insured structure
- The tree is blocking access to your driveway or a handicap-accessible entrance
What is usually not covered: a tree that falls in your yard without hitting anything. Most policies will not pay to remove a tree that fell in an open area of your property, even if the storm caused it.
Steps to Maximize Your Insurance Claim
- Document before cleanup — Photos and video of all damage (see Step 3 above)
- Note the date and type of storm — Your insurer will verify this was a covered weather event
- Get a written estimate from a licensed tree service — 855TREEMAN provides detailed written estimates that include scope of work, equipment required, and itemized costs
- Keep all documentation — Save receipts, photos, estimates, and correspondence
- Do not sign a contract with anyone who shows up unsolicited after a storm — Storm chasers are a real problem in Southern Maryland after major weather events
855TREEMAN provides insurance-ready documentation to support your claim. We have worked with every major insurer in the region, and our estimates are formatted the way adjusters expect to see them. We will work directly with your adjuster if needed.
Emergency Tree Removal: What to Expect from 855TREEMAN
When you call our emergency line, here is how we handle it:
Triage and prioritization. After a major storm, we may receive dozens of emergency calls within hours. We prioritize based on danger level:
- Trees on occupied structures
- Trees on or near power lines (coordinated with SMECO/BGE)
- Trees blocking roads, driveways, or emergency access
- Trees on unoccupied structures (sheds, garages)
- Hazardous leaners that could fail imminently
Safety assessment before any work begins. Our crew chief evaluates every emergency site for electrical hazards, structural instability, and secondary fall risks before a single cut is made. Rushing leads to injuries and further property damage.
Pricing for emergency work. I am transparent about this: emergency storm damage removal typically costs 1.5x to 2x our standard rates. After-hours callouts, hazardous conditions, and the urgency of the situation all factor in. That said, we provide a clear estimate before work begins, and we never pressure anyone into agreeing on the spot. If your situation is not immediately dangerous, we can schedule the work during normal hours at standard rates.
What we bring. Our storm response crews roll with bucket trucks, cranes (when needed), chippers, stump grinders, and all the rigging equipment required for technical removals in tight spaces. We are fully insured and carry the workers’ comp, general liability, and commercial auto coverage that Maryland requires.
Hurricane and Storm Prep for Southern Maryland
The best storm damage plan is the one you make before the storm. Here is what I tell every homeowner in our service area:
Have your trees assessed before storm season. April is when severe weather season begins in Southern Maryland. Schedule a tree health assessment with a certified arborist in late winter or early spring. We will identify dead, dying, or structurally compromised trees that are likely to fail in a storm.
Remove dead or dying trees proactively. A dead tree is going to come down eventually. Taking it down on your schedule — in good weather, during business hours, at standard rates — is safer and cheaper than dealing with it as an emergency after it crashes into something.
Trim branches near structures and power lines. Crown reduction and deadwood removal reduce the sail area and weight load that wind acts on. Proper pruning also improves a tree’s structural integrity.
Know your arborist’s emergency number before you need it. Save (855) 873-3626 in your phone now. When a tree comes through your roof at 2 AM during a thunderstorm, you do not want to be searching for a tree service on your phone in the dark.
Common high-risk areas in Southern Maryland:
- Waterfront properties in Calvert County — Exposed to direct wind off the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River with saturated, sandy soils that weaken root systems
- Rural properties in St. Mary’s County — Large, mature hardwoods on expansive lots that have never been assessed or maintained
- Wooded lots in Charles County — Dense tree canopy near structures where one falling tree can domino into others
- King George County, VA properties near the Potomac — River-adjacent sites with soft soil conditions similar to Calvert County
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can 855TREEMAN respond to storm damage?
We respond to emergencies 24/7 year-round. After a major storm, response times depend on call volume and severity. Hazardous situations — trees on structures, on power lines, or blocking emergency access — are prioritized first. For non-emergency storm damage, we typically schedule assessments within 24-48 hours of the storm clearing. Call us at (855) 873-3626 any time.
Does insurance cover storm damage tree removal?
Yes, in most cases. Your homeowners insurance typically covers storm damage tree removal if the tree fell due to a covered peril (wind, hail, lightning, ice) and it damaged a structure or is blocking access to your property. A tree that falls in an open area of your yard without damaging anything is usually not covered for removal. We provide insurance-ready documentation with every emergency job to support your claim.
Should I remove a tree that survived the storm but is leaning?
A tree that is leaning after a storm almost certainly has root damage and should be treated as hazardous. Even if it looks stable, compromised roots can give way days or even weeks later, often without warning. Have a certified arborist assess any post-storm leaning trees immediately. Do not park vehicles, allow children to play, or walk under a leaning tree until it has been evaluated.
What should I NOT do after storm damage?
Do not attempt to cut or remove large trees or hanging branches yourself — this is some of the most dangerous work in the tree industry, and storm-damaged trees are unpredictable. Do not go near downed power lines or any tree in contact with a wire. Do not start cleanup or removal before documenting all damage with photos for your insurance claim. Do not hire unlicensed storm chasers who go door to door after a storm — verify Maryland tree expert licensing and insurance before signing any contract.
Call 855TREEMAN for Emergency Tree Service
When a storm hits Southern Maryland, 855TREEMAN is who your neighbors call. We have been the emergency tree service for Charles County, Calvert County, St. Mary’s County, and King George County since 2014. As a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert (#2123), I lead a team that is trained, equipped, and ready to respond when you need us most.
24/7 Emergency Line: (855) 873-3626
Schedule a storm preparedness assessment before the next storm season. Let us identify the risks on your property while the weather is calm and the rates are standard.
Serving Charles County, Calvert County, and St. Mary’s County in Maryland, plus King George County, Virginia.
Resources:
- Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) — Severe weather alerts, emergency preparedness guides, and disaster recovery resources for Maryland residents
- SMECO — Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative — Report power outages, downed lines, and check restoration status for Southern Maryland customers