Storm Safety Guide
Signs a Storm-Damaged Tree May Be Unsafe
What Lake Charles property owners should look for after high winds, lightning, and saturated ground—and when to keep their distance.
Start With Distance, Not a Close Inspection
Storm-damaged trees can continue moving after the weather clears. Broken limbs may remain suspended, partially uprooted trees can shift, and split trunks can fail without much warning. Look from a safe location and keep people, pets, and vehicles outside the potential fall area.
Never approach a tree touching a utility line. Electricity can travel through wet wood, soil, fences, tools, and nearby objects. Contact the utility and call 911 when there is an immediate threat to life.
Warning Signs That Deserve Prompt Attention
A new or increasing lean
A tree that changed position during a storm may have root or soil failure. Look for lifted ground, cracked soil, or exposed roots on the side opposite the lean.
Cracks or splits in the trunk
Fresh openings, separated stems, or widening cracks at major unions can indicate lost structural support. Do not stand beneath or beside the affected section.
Hanging or partially attached limbs
A broken limb can remain caught in the canopy and fall later with wind, rain, or vibration. The danger area may extend beyond the area directly beneath it.
Root-plate movement
Soil mounding, heaving, or gaps around the base can mean the root system moved. Saturated Southwest Louisiana soils can reduce anchorage even when the trunk appears intact.
A tree or limb on a structure
Material resting on a roof, fence, shed, vehicle, or another tree may be under tension. Cutting it without understanding those forces can cause sudden movement.
Damage That Can Be Easy to Miss
- New cavities or exposed decayed wood
- Large dead sections revealed by broken foliage
- Lightning damage or long strips of missing bark
- Cracked branch unions high in the canopy
- Bent or split young trees under neighboring debris
- Changes in doors, fences, pavement, or soil near the root area
A photograph may help with initial routing, but it cannot replace an on-site assessment of the tree and property.
What to Do After a Storm
Document conditions safely
Take wide photographs from a protected location. Include the whole tree, nearby structures, access routes, and visible damage. Do not cross utility lines or enter the fall zone for a closer picture.
Control access
Move people and vehicles away when it is safe to do so. Use a visible boundary to keep others from walking beneath damaged limbs.
Contact the right party
Report electrical hazards to the utility. Contact emergency services for immediate threats to life. For tree hazards, request an on-site assessment and describe blocked access, building damage, or unstable material.
Check insurance requirements
If property damage may be covered, document it and contact the insurer before non-emergency work. Ask what records, estimates, and photographs they require.
Request Storm-Damage Help
Describe the property location, visible hazards, access problems, and whether utilities or structures are involved. Submit a Lake Charles tree-service estimate request.
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