Storm Season in West Georgia: A 24-Hour Tree Safety Checklist for Homeowners
- Marsel Gareyev
- Sep 26
- 7 min read
If you’ve lived in Douglasville (or anywhere in West Georgia) for more than a season or two, you know how it goes: the forecast says “scattered storms,” and by dinner you’re watching the trees lean like they’re trying to read the house number on your mailbox. Wind, sudden downpours, a few minutes of hail—you blink and there’s a heavy limb sitting where your grill used to be.
When the weather hits fast, the first 24 hours make all the difference. This guide gives you a clear, calm plan for what to do right after a storm—what’s safe to handle yourself, what to photograph for insurance, and when to call a pro. It’s based on decades of helping neighbors in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica, and Powder Springs clean up after big blows.
First Hour: Make the Area Safe
1) Take a slow lap before you rush in
Walk the perimeter of your home and yard—slowly. You’re looking for hazards that aren’t obvious at first glance:
Downed or sagging power lines. Treat all wires as live. If a line is down or a limb is on the service drop to your home, keep everyone away and call your utility before doing anything else.
Hanging or “widow-maker” limbs. These are broken branches snagged high in the canopy that can drop without warning. Don’t walk under them.
Leaning trees or heaving soil at the base. That “pancake” look in the soil means roots may be pulling loose.
Tensioned limbs and fences. A branch bent over a fence or stuck in a fork can spring when cut. Give it space.
If anything looks unstable, back away and mark the area so family and pets don’t wander through.
2) Keep kids and pets inside
It sounds obvious, but storm damage is curious-magnet stuff. Close the back door, pull the blinds, and keep everyone clear until you’ve had a chance to assess.
3) Protect what you can—without taking risks
If rain’s still coming and a limb nicked shingles or gutters, place buckets or towels inside to catch drips. Outside, move small items you can lift easily (furniture cushions, toys) away from damaged trees. Skip ladders and roof climbs—slippery shingles and adrenaline don’t mix.
Hour 1–3: Document for Insurance (and Your Own Records)
You don’t need to be Ansel Adams—just thorough.
Take wide shots first. Get a few angles that show the whole scene: the tree, the house, the driveway.
Then close-ups. Photograph damaged shingles, dented gutters, crushed fence panels, or cracked windows.
Capture the “before” context if you can. If you have photos from earlier this year showing the area intact, save those with your storm set.
Video helps adjusters. A 30–60 second walk-through narrating what you see (“This limb came down across the roof above the kitchen…”) is gold.
Don’t move big debris yet. Adjusters sometimes want to see it in place.
Pro tip: Create a folder on your phone labeled “Storm – June 2025” and drop everything in there along with notes. If you end up working with us, we’ll happily send you job photos and notes to include as well.
Hour 2–6: What You Can Safely Handle vs. What a Pro Should Do
Safe DIY tasks
Pick up small, loose branches that are clearly on the ground and not under tension.
Rake leaves away from drains to help water run off.
Cover minor roof leaks from the inside with a bucket or towel until help arrives.
Leave these to a pro
Anything above shoulder height or requiring a ladder.
Large limbs on the roof or dangling in a tree.
Branches near power lines (including the service drop to your home).
Trees that are leaning differently than yesterday or have fresh cracks in the trunk.
Stumps or root plates that lifted—they can settle or roll unexpectedly.
If you’re unsure which bucket your situation falls in, we’ll tell you straight. Call for Emergency Tree Service and we’ll advise you on the phone first.
Hour 4–12: Call a Pro—What to Ask and Expect
When you reach out, here’s what helps us help you quickly:
Your address and where the damage is (roof, fence, driveway).
Any utility issues (sparks, line down, or limb on the service line).
A couple of photos by text so we can stage the right equipment.
Access notes (gates, pets, vehicles to move).
What a professional response should include:
Clear safety plan. How we’ll secure the area and prevent further damage.
Rigging strategy. Controlled lowering vs. free-fall cuts; tie-in points; drop zones.
Property protection. Ground mats for the lawn, plywood for tight corners, care around AC units and irrigation lines.
Debris plan. Chipping on-site, hauling away, rake-out, and options to leave stacked firewood if you want it.
Written estimate. Even in emergencies, you deserve clarity.
Our crews at All For One are trained to make storm work boring—in the best way. Calm, clean, methodical. If it looks like we’re moving slower than you expected, that’s by design. Controlled work means no secondary damage.
Dangerous or unstable trees? See Tree Removal
Broken limbs over structures? See Tree Trimming
Need long-term health fixes after the storm? See Tree Pruning and Tree Health & Inspection
Hour 12–24: Short-Term Fixes and Long-Term Wins
Tarping and temporary measures
If a limb created a roof opening and weather allows, we’ll help you get a temporary cover on it or coordinate with a roofer. Insurance companies appreciate quick mitigation steps.
Stump grinding or not (yet)
If a tree came down and you’re staring at a stump, you don’t have to decide that minute. Some homeowners leave stumps until re-sod or a patio project is scheduled; others want it gone immediately. When you’re ready, we’ll call 811 to mark utilities and grind the stump to the depth you need for replanting or turf.
Debrief while it’s fresh
This takes five minutes and pays off later:
Which trees shed the most or failed?
Where did limbs overhang the roof or driveway?
Did water pool near any trunks (hello, Georgia red clay)?
Are there trees that deserve a closer look before the next storm?
From there, we can schedule a no-pressure walkthrough to talk about structural pruning, root health, or cabling/bracing for trees you want to keep.
A Practical Checklist You Can Save
Right away
Keep everyone clear of damaged trees and wires.
Photograph the scene (wide shots + close-ups + short video).
Call your utility if lines are down.
Call Emergency Tree Service for safe removal of hazards.
Same day
Rake leaves from drains; move small debris only.
Review and approve a written estimate for professional work.
Ask about roof tarping if needed.
Decide whether to keep firewood (we can cut to 16–18″ rounds) or have us haul it all.
Within a week
Schedule structural pruning to reduce wind sail.
Establish roof and driveway clearance with trimming.
Plan stump grinding if you’re re-sodding or replanting.
Book a tree health inspection to catch hidden issues (decay, root movement, fungus).
Common Post-Storm Questions (Quick Answers)
“A big limb is resting on the roof. Can I pull it off?”
If it’s heavy enough to dent shingles, it’s heavy enough to shift and cause more damage—or pull you off a ladder. Call us; we’ll rig it down safely.
“There’s a limb near the line to our house. The lights still work.”
Treat it as live. Call the utility first, then us. We regularly coordinate with power crews.
“Can you just cut the top off my tree so it doesn’t fall?”
Topping creates weak sprouts and makes failure more likely. Instead, we perform crown reduction and structural pruning that maintain strength while lowering wind load.
“Will insurance cover this?”
Policies vary, but insurers generally expect you to prevent further damage and hire insured professionals. Our documentation (photos, notes, invoices) makes your claim easier.
A quick story from a Douglasville backyard
Last summer, a family off Stewart Mill called after a line of storms. A water oak dropped a major limb across their back porch. No power lines were involved, but the porch roof had a shallow dent and there were three more “hangers” deep in the canopy. We staged ground mats to protect the lawn, set two high tie-in points, and pieced out the hangers first so nothing could surprise us. The big limb came down in controlled sections, we raked the yard, and they kept a neat stack of firewood. Before we left, we walked the remaining trees and scheduled a light reduction on two top-heavy maples. When the next storm hit a month later, those maples held.
That’s the goal: fix today’s problem and make the next storm boring.
Prevention that actually works in West Georgia
Annual structural pruning. Reduces leverage on heavy tops and removes weakly attached limbs.
Roof and driveway clearance. Keeps branches from scraping shingles or blocking sightlines.
Mulch and drainage. Georgia’s red clay gets waterlogged; keep mulch 2–3″ deep (not volcano mounds) and pull it back from the trunk flare.
Health checks. Look for fungus at the base, sudden leans, cracks, or early dieback in the crown. When in doubt, let us take a look.
If you prefer a set-and-forget plan, we can place you on a maintenance schedule that hits the key tasks before storm season.
When you need help, call the team your neighbors already trust
All For One Tree Service has served Douglasville and West Georgia for more than 30 years. We show up with a calm plan, the right gear, and a crew that treats your property like it’s our own. Whether it’s midnight after a wind burst or a sunny Tuesday cleanup, we’ll make it simple.
Safe, controlled Tree Removal
Clearance and curb appeal Tree Trimming
Health-focused Tree Pruning
Clean finish Stump Grinding
Honest Free Estimates
Bottom line: In West Georgia, storms happen. Panic doesn’t have to. Keep this 24-hour checklist handy, and if you need a steady hand on a chaotic day, we’re a call away.
