Storm Damage Tree Cleanup in Boise, ID: What to Do First
Treasure Valley windstorms hit hard and fast. Here's exactly what to do — and what never to do — when a tree comes down.
A big wind event rolls through the valley and suddenly there's a cottonwood across your driveway — or worse, on your roof. It's stressful, but the order of operations is simple. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Before anything else, check for downed power lines. Assume every downed line is energized, stay at least 30 feet away, and keep kids and pets inside. If a line is sparking, arcing, or blocking an exit, call 911. For lines that are down but not an immediate emergency, call Idaho Power (or your local utility) to report it. Never touch a tree that is contacting a power line — not with your hands, not with a tool, not with your truck. A tree crew cannot work on it until the utility de-energizes the line; we coordinate that directly.
Step 2: Document the Damage
Once it's safe, take photos and video from the ground — the tree, what it hit, the surrounding area. Get wide shots and close-ups. This documentation is what your insurance adjuster will want, and it protects you if there's any dispute about pre-existing versus storm-caused damage. Don't climb on the tree or the roof to get a better angle.
Step 3: Call for Emergency Tree Service
Our 24/7 emergency line is answered around the clock. After a major windstorm we triage by hazard: trees on homes, blocking driveways or streets, and trees on structures come first. Here's what professional storm cleanup involves:
- Hazard removal first. The immediate danger — the trunk on your roof, the limbs blocking your driveway — gets handled before anything cosmetic.
- Sectional dismantling. Trees tangled with structures are cut down piece by piece and lowered on ropes to avoid further damage.
- Crane work when needed. A tree lying across a house often can't be cut safely from the ground — a crane lifts sections clear.
- Full debris removal. Limbs get chipped, trunks cut and hauled, and the area raked. You shouldn't be left with a disaster zone.
Step 4: Deal With Insurance
Most homeowners policies cover tree removal when a storm drops a tree onto an insured structure — your house, garage, fence, or shed — in a covered event like a windstorm. A tree that fell in the yard and hit nothing is often not covered for removal. Call your agent early, share your photos, and ask specifically what's covered before authorizing big work. Keep every receipt.
What You Should Never Do
- Don't cut limbs under tension. Bent or pinned trunks and branches — "spring poles" — can snap back with lethal force when cut. This is how homeowners get seriously hurt after storms.
- Don't climb. Storm-damaged trees are unpredictable; cracked limbs can fail under your weight without warning.
- Don't hire the door-knocker. After every windstorm, uninsured operators cruise damaged neighborhoods offering cash deals. No insurance, no credentials, no recourse if they drop something on your house. Verify coverage first — see how to choose a tree service.
What Emergency Cleanup Typically Costs
Emergency work costs more than scheduled work — crews are mobilized after hours, often in the dark, around hazards. Typical Boise-area ranges: clearing a fallen tree from a yard with no structural involvement often runs $500–$1,500; a tree on a house or structure requiring sectional dismantling or crane work typically runs $1,500–$5,000+. These are typical ranges, not quotes — storm jobs are priced on site because no two are alike. If insurance is covering it, get the adjuster's approval process started before authorizing major work, and keep every receipt.
After the Cleanup: What's Next
Once the immediate hazard is gone, a few follow-ups are worth planning:
- Stump grinding. The trunk is gone but the stump remains — grinding it below grade lets you replant, lay sod, or simply reclaim the yard.
- Assess neighboring trees. The same windstorm that took one tree stressed others. A quick inspection of remaining large trees catches cracked limbs before the next storm does.
- Consider replanting wisely. If you replace the tree, plant it with mature size in mind — away from the house, the driveway, and the sewer lateral. See our sewer line guide before you pick the spot.
Preventing the Next One
Most storm failures are predictable. A dormant-season inspection catches the usual suspects: dead limbs, cracked unions, leaning trunks, and root problems. Removing deadwood and thinning weak limbs — see our seasonal trimming guide — dramatically reduces what the next windstorm can tear off. And if you have a tree you've been worried about for years, don't wait for the storm to decide for you.
Storm Damage FAQs
A tree fell on my house — what do I do first?
Make sure everyone is safe, check for downed power lines (stay 30+ feet away, call 911 or the utility if there's danger), take photos for insurance, then call our 24/7 emergency line. Don't climb on the tree or the roof yourself.
Who do I call if a tree is on a power line in Boise?
Call your utility company — Idaho Power for most of the Treasure Valley — immediately. Never touch a tree contacting a power line, and keep everyone well away. A tree crew can only work after the utility de-energizes the line, and we coordinate with them directly.
Will homeowners insurance cover storm tree cleanup?
Usually, when the tree damaged an insured structure in a covered event like a windstorm. A fallen tree that hit nothing is often not covered for removal. Document everything with photos and check with your agent before assuming.
How fast can you respond to storm damage?
Our emergency line is answered 24/7. After major windstorms we triage by hazard severity — trees on homes, blocking driveways, or on structures come first. Call as soon as it's safe and we'll give you a realistic arrival window.
Should I try to cut up a fallen tree myself?
Small limbs on open ground are fine for a careful homeowner. Never cut limbs under tension — bent trunks can snap back violently — and never touch anything on a structure or near power lines. When in doubt, leave it for the pros.
How can I reduce storm damage risk to my trees?
Get a dormant-season inspection, remove deadwood, thin weak or crossing limbs, and take down hazardous trees before storm season. Proper structural pruning when trees are young prevents most failures decades later.