What to Do After Storm Damage to Trees in Knoxville

First: make sure everyone is safe

Before anything else – before photos, before insurance calls, before looking up a tree service – confirm that everyone in your household is safe and away from the affected area. A fallen tree is not a static situation; additional pieces can shift and fall without warning.

If downed or damaged power lines are involved, do not approach. Call KUB immediately at 865-524-2911. KUB handles line clearance – that is their work, not a tree service’s. Never attempt to remove a tree touching a power line yourself, under any circumstances.

The 7-step storm damage checklist

1. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
2. Call KUB at 865-524-2911 if power lines are involved.
3. Photograph everything before any cleanup begins. Wide-angle shots of the full scene, close-ups where the tree contacts the structure, the root ball and base, and any interior damage. Phone timestamps and GPS metadata are valuable documentation.
4. Open your insurance claim. Call your agent or claims line the same day if possible and get a claim number.
5. Get a written estimate from a licensed, insured tree service. Call (865) 500-6459 for a fast response and an estimate that meets insurance documentation standards.
6. Address active safety hazards first, but don’t authorize full removal until your adjuster confirms coverage – unless the situation poses an immediate safety risk that can’t wait.
7. Save every receipt. Emergency tarping, temporary repairs, hotel stays, tree service deposits – everything.

What counts as a storm-related emergency

Call for emergency service when a tree has fallen onto or into a structure; is blocking the only access to your property; has large hanging limbs suspended above where people need to be; is partially uprooted and leaning against a structure; or has cracked and split but hasn’t fully fallen yet.

After the cleanup: inspect the surviving trees

One of the most underestimated parts of storm recovery is the surviving trees – the ones that didn’t fall but swayed dramatically or lost large limbs. Schedule an arborist inspection of any tree that was in the wind path of a significant event, particularly trees within fall distance of your home.

Storm season pro tip

The most important thing about storm damage is preventing it. Dead wood removal, crown thinning, structural cabling on weak unions, and proactive removal of Bradford pears and silver maples before they fail routinely prevent damage that costs $2,000 to $8,000 or more to fix after the fact. Call (865) 500-6459 to get on the pre-season schedule.