The 72 hours after a Tallahassee tropical storm or hurricane are the highest-stakes window of the entire year for tree care. Trees that survived the wind but are structurally compromised will fail in the following weeks. Insurance claims filed quickly and with proper documentation clear faster. The right walkthrough this week saves five figures of remediation cost and prevents the second-wave injuries that account for most post-storm tree fatalities.
Hour 0–6: Safety First
Wait for the National Weather Service all-clear before stepping outside. Identify which trees are down, partially down, leaning, or hanging from a safe distance. Identify any tree-on-structure, tree-on-vehicle, or tree-on-power-line situations. Photograph from a safe distance — do not approach. If anything is on the structure, call (850) 820-2166 for emergency dispatch.
Hour 6–24: Document Everything
Photograph every damaged tree, every structure with damage, and every fallen limb before cleanup crews arrive. Insurance adjusters need before-cleanup evidence. Note timestamps. If a lightning strike was involved (visible burn track, bark stripped, ground disturbed), lightning-damaged trees fail on a delay and need separate triage.
The Triage Categories
Likely save: Crown damage less than 25%, no root plate movement, no trunk cracks longer than 12 inches, live oak with intact main scaffold limbs, mature pine with broken side branches but intact main leader.
Borderline: Crown damage 25–50%, trunk cracks 12–36 inches, live oak with split co-dominant stem, significant deadwood load, trees that lost a major scaffold limb on one side. Call an arborist.
Likely remove: Crown damage above 50%, visible root plate lift (soil heaved, ground cracked at the base), trunk crack running into the buttress roots, hollow trunk now exposed by storm damage, anything leaning toward a structure after the storm.
Hour 24–72: Open The Claim
Call your insurance carrier and open the claim. Have your pre-storm photos ready as part of the file. Request an adjuster site visit. Florida law requires acknowledgment within 14 days. If you have an ISA-certified arborist report from the spring window, attach it — it serves as pre-existing-condition evidence in your favor.
Call (850) 820-2166 — 24/7 Emergency Rotation
TTS runs a 24/7 emergency dispatch through hurricane season. 24/7 dispatch for tree-on-structure, tree-on-vehicle, and access-blocking situations.
Related TTS Resources
This page is part of the TTS hurricane-season playbook. For the full season hub (30/14/3/1-day countdown, post-storm triage, and insurance claim mechanics) see the Tallahassee Hurricane Tree Prep Hub. For pricing on every Tallahassee tree service (removal, trimming, stump, emergency, arborist, crane, cabling), see the Tallahassee Tree Service Cost Guide.
