After-Storm Tree Damage Guide: What to Check Now and Later

Infographic: Post-Storm Tree Safety Triage

What Should You Do First After a Storm?

Start with safety. Do not walk under damaged trees. Do not touch a tree or branch that is touching a wire. Do not move a downed line or anything in contact with it.

The National Weather Service says to stay away from downed power lines after high wind events. Snohomish County PUD also tells customers to assume downed lines are live and to report them right away.

If a tree is on a home, car, fence, road, or utility line, treat it as an emergency. Stay back. Take photos only if you can do it from a safe place.

What Tree Damage Should You Check for Right Away?

Check the tree from the ground and from a safe distance. Use binoculars (Amazon search, paid link) or your phone zoom if needed.

• Hanging limbs: Broken branches caught in the canopy can fall later.
• Split trunk: A crack through the trunk or a main union is a serious warning sign.
• New lean: A tree that leans more than it did before the storm may have root damage.
• Lifted soil: Mounded soil or cracked ground near the base can mean the root plate moved.
• Broken top: A snapped leader can change the tree’s structure.
• Large torn wounds: Torn bark and exposed wood can lead to decay.
• Branches over targets: Look at limbs over roofs, driveways, sidewalks, play areas, and parking lots.

Infographic: Tree Damage Zones to Inspect

Can Storm Damage Show Up Days or Months Later?

Yes. Some damage is hidden at first. A tree can look normal after a windstorm but still have cracked roots, weakened branch unions, or internal trunk damage.

In the Pacific Northwest, wet winter soil can make this worse. Douglas-fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, bigleaf maple, red alder, and black cottonwood can all fail when wind, heavy rain, snow, ice, decay, or root problems line up.

Watch the tree over the next few weeks and during the next windy day. If the lean grows, the soil keeps lifting, cracks widen, or the canopy begins to die back, schedule an arborist assessment.

Infographic: Current vs. Future Tree Damage

How Should You Document Tree Damage?

Photos and notes help property owners, managers, insurers, and tree crews understand the situation.

• Take wide photos of the full tree and nearby structures.
• Take close photos of cracks, lifted soil, broken limbs, and trunk wounds.
• Note the date and storm type, such as wind, snow, ice, or heavy rain.
• Mark the tree location on the property.
• Keep photos of damage to roofs, fences, vehicles, or pavement.
• Do not stand under damaged limbs to get a better photo.

When Should You Call a Tree Service After a Storm?

Call a tree service if the tree is large, leaning, split, uprooted, on a structure, over a target, or holding broken limbs above people or property.

You should also call if you see root movement, cracks in the trunk, broken main leaders, or damage you cannot safely inspect from the ground.

For trees near power lines, call the utility first. In Snohomish County PUD service areas, report downed lines or outage hazards through the PUD outage system or phone line. Do not ask a regular tree crew to work inside an unsafe electrical zone unless utility clearance is handled first.

What Should You Not Do After Storm Tree Damage?

• Do not touch trees or limbs near power lines.
• Do not stand under hanging branches.
• Do not climb a storm-damaged tree.
• Do not use a ladder against a damaged tree.
• Do not cut limbs that are bent, pinned, or under tension.
• Do not top the tree.
• Do not paint wounds or seal cuts.
• Do not remove trees in protected areas before checking local rules.

Can a Storm-Damaged Tree Be Saved?

Sometimes. A tree may recover if the main trunk is sound, the roots did not move, the crown still has enough healthy branches, and the damage can be pruned correctly.

A tree is less likely to recover when the trunk is split, the root plate has lifted, the tree has lost a large share of its canopy, or decay was already present before the storm.

Large, older, or high-value trees should be checked by a qualified arborist. The goal is not just to ask, “Is it alive?” The better question is, “Can it remain safe near people and property?”

What Future Risks Should You Watch After a PNW Storm?

Future risk often comes from stress and decay. Wind and snow can break branches. Heavy rain can loosen soil. Exposed wounds can lead to wood decay. Injured Douglas-fir, alder, and other trees can also attract insects or decay organisms over time.

In western Washington and Oregon, common follow-up concerns include root rot, trunk decay, canopy dieback, weak regrowth after topping, and trees that lean more after more rain.

Check again after the next strong wind. A tree that moves more than similar nearby trees may need review.

Infographic: After-Storm Tree Care Timeline

Do Permits Matter After Storm Tree Damage?

They can. Permit rules depend on the city, county, and exact tree location.

In unincorporated Snohomish County, critical areas can include wetlands, streams, lakes, buffers, flood areas, geologic hazard areas, and aquifer recharge areas. Native Growth Protection Areas and Critical Area Protection Areas may also have special rules.

Snohomish County says hazardous trees that meet the county definition may not need a permit in NGPA/CAPA areas, but the county also points property owners toward qualified assessment. Non-hazard clearing, large clearing areas, right-of-way work, or forest practice activity can have different rules.

If your property is inside Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, or another city, check that city’s rules before removing a tree unless there is an active emergency.

How Can You Reduce Tree Damage in Future Storms?

The best future storm plan is regular tree care before the next storm season.

• Schedule structural pruning for young trees.
• Remove dead, cracked, or rubbing branches.
• Correct weak branch unions when trees are young.
• Keep branches from becoming too heavy on one side.
• Do not top trees or leave long stubs.
• Use mulch to protect roots, but keep mulch away from the trunk.
• Water stressed trees during dry summer periods.
• Plant the right tree in the right place, especially near power lines.

In the Pacific Northwest, future risk is often tied to both winter storms and summer stress. Western red cedar dieback, drought stress, root disease, and saturated winter soil can all affect how a tree handles wind.

What Should Property Managers Do After a Storm?

Property managers should use a repeatable checklist. This helps protect residents, tenants, visitors, and crews.

• Check roads, parking areas, entrances, sidewalks, and play areas first.
• Mark off unsafe zones with cones or caution tape.
• Report power-line issues to the utility.
• Document all tree and property damage with photos.
• Prioritize trees that could strike people, buildings, cars, or access routes.
• Schedule follow-up inspections for large trees after the first cleanup.
• Keep records of arborist reports, invoices, and permit checks.