Storm Damage Tree Removal: What to Do First

If you’re reading this with a tree currently sitting on your roof or across your driveway in Joplin, take a breath. Most storm damage situations look much worse than they are at 6 a.m. Here’s exactly what to do, in order.

Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

This sounds obvious, but in the chaos right after a storm it gets skipped. Before you do anything else:

• Account for everyone in the household, including pets.
• Get clear of any tree that is leaning, partially uprooted, or hanging on another tree. These can shift without warning.
• Assume any downed line — even one that doesn’t look "live" — is energized. Stay back at least 30 feet and call the utility (Empire District / Liberty in most of the Joplin area) immediately. Never touch a tree that is in contact with a power line.

Step 2: Get Out of the House if a Tree Hit the Roof

A tree on the roof can compromise the structure in ways that aren’t obvious from the inside. If a large limb or trunk hit the home:

• Get everyone out and don’t go back in for valuables until a structural assessment is done.
• Shut off power and gas at the meter if you can do so safely from outside.
• If water is coming in heavily, a contractor can usually tarp it once the tree is partially removed — but don’t climb on a compromised roof yourself.

Step 3: Document Everything for Insurance

Before any cleanup happens, take photos and video. Lots of them.

• Wide shots of the damage from multiple angles
• Close-ups of the impact point on the structure
• Photos of the root plate / where the tree came from
• Photos of any other property damage (vehicles, fencing, outbuildings)
• Photos of the tree before cleanup if at all possible

Call your homeowner’s insurance and open a claim. In Missouri, storm-related tree damage to your home is generally covered, though the rules vary on whether removal of trees that didn’t hit anything is covered. The adjuster will tell you exactly what’s in your policy.

Step 4: Mitigate Further Damage (But Safely)

Most policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage. That doesn’t mean climbing on the roof with a chainsaw. It means:

• Tarping holes once the area is safe (a roofer or restoration contractor handles this)
• Moving vehicles out from under leaning trees if you can do so without risk
• Keeping people and pets out of the affected area

Step 5: Call a Real Local Tree Service — Not a Storm Chaser

After every major storm in the Joplin area, out-of-state trucks show up offering "free" inspections and demanding payment upfront. Avoid them. A reputable, local tree service will:

• Be licensed and carry verifiable insurance (ask for a Certificate of Insurance)
• Provide a written estimate before any work begins
• Coordinate directly with your insurance company if needed
• Not require large cash payments before work starts

Step 6: Don’t Cut It Yourself

We say this with love. After a storm, chainsaw injuries spike — and most of them happen to homeowners cutting limbs that are under tension. A limb pinned under a tree isn’t a piece of wood; it’s a loaded spring. Even small storm-damaged trees can kick back, roll, or release with enough force to be life-threatening.

Cleanup of brush in the yard, away from anything dangerous? Sure, have at it. Anything still attached to the tree, anything under tension, anything near a structure or line — that’s a professional job.

What Happens When Our Crew Arrives

For an emergency call in Joplin, our typical response sequence is:

• Initial assessment — usually within hours for active emergencies
• Make the area safe (cut limbs under tension, stabilize anything leaning)
• Remove the tree in pieces, often with a crane for trees on structures
• Tarp and clear debris
• Follow up with stump removal and any additional cleanup once the urgency is gone

If a tree is on your house, your car, or your driveway in the Joplin area right now, call us. We’ll get there as quickly as we safely can.