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Before the next fall-like wind and rain, check the parts of your trees that could affect people, vehicles, buildings, utility lines, and access routes. Stay on the ground. Look from a safe distance. Do not climb, cut large limbs, or work near electrical lines. If a tree or branch is close to a power line, contact the utility first.
A quick check cannot prove that a tree is safe or prevent every failure. It can help you spot changes, keep important areas clear, and decide who should handle the next step.
What should you check before windy, wet weather?
Start with the places people use most. You do not need to inspect every twig. Focus on where a falling branch would matter most.
- Driveways and regular parking spaces
- Front walks, gates, and building entrances
- Decks, patios, play areas, and dog runs
- Roofs, sheds, fences, and parked equipment
- Private lanes and emergency access routes
- Areas near overhead electrical lines
View each area from more than one safe position. Look up without standing under a branch that concerns you. Binoculars (Amazon search, paid link) or a phone camera can help you document a change from the ground, but a photograph alone cannot confirm whether a tree is safe.
Which branch changes deserve a closer look?
Pay attention to clear changes or damage, especially above frequently used areas. Useful observations include:
- A branch that is newly broken, hanging, or partly separated
- A fresh split where a large branch joins the trunk
- A branch that has dropped lower than it was before
- Newly exposed wood or torn bark after earlier wind
- A recent change in the tree’s lean
- Soil lifting or cracking near the base
- A large dead-looking branch above a driveway, entrance, or gathering area
These signs do not tell you by themselves whether a tree will fail. Species, structure, decay, roots, soil, exposure, and past pruning can all affect the decision. Keep people and vehicles away from a questionable area when you can do so safely, then ask a qualified tree professional to assess it in person.
What if branches are near power lines?
Call the utility before arranging tree work near electrical lines. Do not trim the branch yourself, use a ladder nearby, or try to decide whether a wire is energized.
Snohomish County PUD says trees are the leading cause of outages in its system. It also says work within 10 feet of a primary conductor must be done by a qualified electrical worker. The PUD can review trees around its lines, but it notes that it does not maintain vegetation around service lines or stand-alone communication lines. Start with the PUD’s tree-maintenance guidance and contact route so the line and responsibility can be evaluated before private tree work is planned.
This utility-first step does not mean Comprehensive Tree Services performs energized-line clearance or works as a PUD line-clearance contractor. The proper work sequence depends on what lines are present and what the utility requires.
What should you do about a fallen line?
Stay away and report it immediately. Snohomish County PUD says to remain at least 30 feet from a fallen line and call the PUD. If the situation is life-threatening, such as a fire, sparking line, or a line touching an occupied vehicle, call 911 as well.
Do not move the line, touch a branch resting on it, drive over it, or enter the area to take a closer photograph. Keep other people and pets away. Follow the utility’s fallen-power-line safety instructions.
Is your property ready for safe access?
Clear ordinary objects from access routes before the weather changes. This is not tree work. It is simple site preparation that may make later assessment easier.
- Move vehicles away from trees or branches already causing concern.
- Put away toys, hoses, empty pots, and lightweight yard items.
- Make sure the house number is visible from the road.
- Unlock only the gates that an expected contractor may need to use.
- Keep private lanes open where possible.
- Note septic areas, soft lawns, irrigation parts, or other access limits.
- Keep pets and children away from any marked concern area.
Do not move vehicles or objects through an area with a hanging branch or suspected electrical hazard. Safety comes before clearing access.
How should you plan for branches and debris?
Choose a legal debris option before making a pile. Do not place branches where they block a sidewalk, ditch, driveway, hydrant, utility equipment, or road sight line.
As checked on September 4, 2026, the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s page showed a Stage 2 fire-safety burn ban for unincorporated Snohomish County. The posted restriction prohibited outdoor burning, including yard-debris and recreational fires, until further notice. Burn status can change, and rules inside a city may differ. Recheck the county’s current outdoor-burning information before any disposal decision.
If you are sorting an existing pile, separate small loose material only when it is safely on the ground and clear of utility hazards. Leave lodged, suspended, heavy, or tensioned wood alone. Ask your tree-service provider what debris handling is included before work begins. Comprehensive Tree Services’ debris options were not verified for this draft.
For more detail while the posted restriction remains active, see this branch-and-brush guidance for the Snohomish County Stage 2 burn ban. Recheck the official county status before relying on any dated article.
Should you check road conditions too?
Check the responsible road agency if a tree concern may affect travel or contractor access. The Snohomish County Roads Update dated September 3, 2026, listed work affecting travel on roads in unincorporated areas and directed readers to city sites or WSDOT when a project was not listed.
Use the county’s current Roads Update for county-road projects. Contact the appropriate city for a city street. Do not enter a road to move a tree, direct traffic, or inspect a branch.
What can you check safely after the weather passes?
Wait until conditions are calm, then observe from the ground and at a distance. Compare the tree with any earlier photos. Look for:
- New hanging or broken branches
- Fresh splits or exposed wood
- A changed lean or lifted soil
- Branches resting on a roof, fence, or vehicle
- Blocked entrances or private access
- Any wire on the ground or tangled with a tree
If electrical lines may be involved, stop and call the utility. For immediate danger to life, fire, or an occupied vehicle, call 911. Otherwise, mark off the area without walking under damaged limbs. Take wide photos from a safe location and note when you first saw the change.
For a fuller review after wind or rain, use the After-Storm Tree Damage Guide. Remember that a remote description or photo cannot replace an on-site assessment.
What is the safest next step?
Route the issue according to the hazard.
| What you see | Who to contact first |
|---|---|
| Immediate threat to life, fire, sparking, or a line on an occupied vehicle | 911 and the utility |
| Tree or branch touching or close to an electrical line | The utility |
| Tree affecting a public road | The responsible city, county, or state road agency |
| Question about burning or permits | The appropriate county or city office |
| Private-property tree concern with no electrical or public-safety emergency | A qualified tree-service professional |
If you need help deciding the safest next step for a tree on your property, request a tree assessment from Comprehensive Tree Services.
Information can change. Check linked sources for current restrictions, permits, and local guidance.
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