Storm Damage Tree Care in Pennsylvania — What to Do After a Storm

The Lehigh Valley experiences significant storm activity throughout the year — summer thunderstorms with straight-line winds, nor’easters, ice storms, and the remnants of Atlantic storms that track inland. Each storm type causes different patterns of tree damage. Knowing how to respond — what is safe to approach, what to leave alone, and what requires immediate professional attention — can prevent a bad situation from becoming catastrophic.

Immediate Safety Priorities After Any Storm

Downed Power Lines — Do Not Approach

If a tree has fallen on or near power lines, treat every line as energized until PPL Electric confirms otherwise. Do not approach the fallen tree, do not touch any fence, metal gate, or vehicle the tree is in contact with, and do not allow anyone to stand in standing water that is in contact with the area. Call PPL at 1-800-342-5775 immediately. PPL prioritizes line safety calls and will dispatch crews to de-energize the line before any tree work can begin.

Trees Resting Against Your House

A tree that has partially fallen and is resting against a structure — but has not yet come through it — is in an unstable, dangerous configuration. The weight and leverage of the suspended sections can shift, causing the tree to complete its fall at any time. Do not attempt to enter the structure through doors or windows near the contact point. Do not go on the roof. Call a professional for emergency removal and wait outside the risk zone.

Assessing Your Trees After a Storm — What to Look For

Hangers — The Most Dangerous Post-Storm Hazard

“Hangers” or “widow makers” are branches that have broken but remain caught in the canopy above rather than falling to the ground. They are often not visible from a normal viewing angle — you need to look up into the canopy from a safe distance. Hangers can fall with no warning, even hours or days after the storm, when the canopy shifts in light wind. Never walk under a tree after a storm without looking up first. If you see hangers, do not go under that tree until they are removed professionally.

Partial Failures

A tree that has had a major limb tear — not cleanly cut, but torn — needs assessment. The torn wood is a wound that will decay faster than a clean pruning cut. The remaining tree may have lost significant structural wood. Have an arborist assess what remains and whether the tree is still stable.

Newly Leaning Trees

A tree that was vertical before the storm but now shows a visible lean — even a small one — may have experienced root or trunk failure. If soil has moved around the base, if the root plate appears to have shifted, or if the lean was not there before the storm, treat the tree as a hazard until it can be professionally assessed.

Split Trunks

When a co-dominant stem splits at the trunk junction, both halves may remain standing. This is an active hazard. The split surfaces are under significant tension and can complete their separation at any time. A rope or cable temporarily holding both halves is not a solution — it is a delay. Emergency removal or at minimum emergency cabling by a certified arborist is required.

What Can Be Left vs. What Needs Prompt Attention

Can Leave for Scheduled Service

• Small branches (under 2 inches diameter) broken and on the ground — clean up as time allows
• Minor bark damage on otherwise healthy trees — monitor, may heal on its own
• Bent but not broken small-diameter branches — straighten if flexible enough; let them recover

Needs Prompt Attention (Within 1–3 Days)

• Hangers in canopy — clear before anyone works under or near the tree
• Large broken branches still attached to the tree — the attachment is unstable and will fail eventually
• Trees with significant new lean
• Split co-dominant stems still standing
• Storm damage over a high-use area (playground, driveway, frequently traveled path)

Emergency Removal Required

• Tree resting against a structure
• Tree blocking access to the property
• Tree or large limb in contact with a power line
• Tree that has partially uprooted and could complete its fall with the next wind event

Can Storm-Damaged Trees Be Saved?

Many storm-damaged trees can be saved with proper care:

• Clean the wound: If a branch tore rather than broke cleanly, a professional can trim the torn edges to a smooth cut that will callus over properly. This is a simple task that significantly improves healing.
• Remove stubs properly: Broken stubs left in a tree decay faster than clean cuts at the branch collar. Remove stubs now rather than waiting.
• Do not over-prune: The instinct to “balance” a lopsided tree by removing branches on the other side is usually wrong — the tree needs its remaining canopy for photosynthesis and recovery. Let the tree set the recovery pace.
• Monitor for secondary stress: A tree that survived a storm but lost significant canopy is under stress. It is more susceptible to secondary pest and disease attack in the following season. Monitor for unusual dieback or pest activity the following spring and summer.

Insurance Documentation for Storm Tree Damage

Before any crew removes storm-damaged material:

• Photograph everything — the fallen or damaged tree, the origin point (stump or trunk split), the resulting structure damage — with timestamped photos
• Do not allow cleanup to begin before the insurance adjuster visits, if possible
• If the situation is a genuine safety emergency requiring immediate removal, document with photos first and file for retroactive adjuster review
• Keep all receipts for emergency work — these are part of your insurance claim

Post-Storm Pruning Timing for Oaks

If your storm damage involves oak trees and you are in the Lehigh Valley between April 15 and July 15 — the high-risk oak wilt season — apply pruning wound sealant to every cut immediately after making it. This reduces the sap beetle attraction that transmits oak wilt fungal spores. This is the one situation where wound sealant is recommended by arboricultural professionals.

FAQs — Storm Damage Tree Care Pennsylvania

My tree has a large wound from the storm. Should I apply wound paint?

For most situations: no. Current arboricultural research shows that wound paint does not accelerate healing and can actually trap moisture and fungal spores under the paint, worsening decay. The only exception is fresh oak pruning wounds during beetle-active season (mid-April through mid-July) — paint these to reduce sap beetle attraction.

The storm tore a large limb from my tree. Will the tree survive?

Depends on the species, the amount of canopy lost, and the tree’s overall health before the storm. Many trees recover from losing 20–30% of their canopy. Losing more than 50% puts significant recovery stress on the tree. Have an arborist assess the remaining structure and health before deciding whether to save or remove the tree.

How quickly do I need to address storm damage?

Hangers and trees resting against structures: immediately — same day if possible. Other significant damage: within 1–3 days. Cosmetic damage and minor cleanup: within a week or two, as scheduling allows.

Stone Ridge Landscaping LLC provides emergency storm response and post-storm tree care throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties. We are available after hours for genuine emergencies and can assess your storm damage and give you a clear action plan. Call anytime.