After the Big Storm: Your Complete Guide to Assessing and Repairing Storm-Damaged Trees in North Carolina

When Storms Hit, Your Trees Take the Blow

When a major winter storm passes through North Carolina, your trees may look the same at first glance, but damage can be hiding just beneath the bark or high in the canopy. As local arborists with years of hands-on experience, we at Brantley Tree Service have seen it all: cracked trunks, downed limbs, uprooted giants, and dangerous hangers threatening roofs and power lines.

If you’re a homeowner wondering what to do after a storm, here’s your expert checklist to keep your family safe, your property intact, and your peace of mind secure.

✅ 5 Steps to Take After a Storm Hits Your Property

1. Check for Hanging or Broken Limbs

Start with a simple visual inspection. Look up, and look carefully. This may seem laughably basic, but doing a thorough investigation of your property is the number one thing that people miss. Take pictures of everything that looks questionable or amiss. This will be vital in getting a comprehensive quote from our team and will minimize the amount of on-site additions we will recommend.

Storms often leave behind partially detached limbs that do not fall right away. These are known in the arborist world as “widow-makers”. These are branches that can drop without warning, especially under the pressure of wind, ice, or even a curious squirrel.

These limbs can range in size from small twigs to massive branches that could cause real harm. If a broken branch is hanging over your driveway, deck, or roof, it is time to bring in a professional crew who can safely remove it without damaging your home.

Pro Tip: The danger is not just in what is already broken, it is in what might break next.

2. Look for Uprooted or Leaning Trees

Even if a tree has not fallen, it may be dangerously close. Saturated soil combined with high wind can cause a tree’s root system to shift, lifting one side of the tree or causing it to lean unnaturally.

A leaning tree, especially one that was not leaning before, is a red flag. In many cases, these trees can fall days or even weeks after the storm as the soil continues to settle or dry unevenly.

Call Brantley Tree if you see:

• Newly exposed roots or “heaving” at the base

• A sudden lean toward your house or driveway

• Soil pushed upward in a mound near the trunk

These signs indicate your tree has lost stability and needs immediate evaluation.

3. Inspect for Bark Splits and Trunk Cracks

Some of the most dangerous storm damage is invisible from a distance. After a storm, inspect the base and trunk of your trees for:

• Vertical cracks or splits in the bark

• Missing bark patches or oozing sap

• Fungal growth, which may indicate internal decay (this is less likely during winter, but fungi can still lie dormant, and issues can still present themselves during winter if a fresh crack has appeared).

Cracks weaken a tree’s internal structure and often mean the tree can no longer support its own weight. While the tree may still be standing, it may only take a gust of wind or the next cold snap to bring it down.

4. Scan for Power Line Interference

A tree touching or hanging over power lines is one of the most dangerous and urgent situations we encounter after storms.

Never attempt to handle this yourself. Even if the line appears inactive, it could still be live, or become live again when power is restored.

Brantley Tree Service is fully equipped with dual 100-foot bucket trucks and experienced line-clearance arborists. We can safely remove these hazards with complete protection for your property and crew.

5. Don’t Wait for the Next Storm, Take Action Now

Time is not on your side when it comes to storm-damaged trees.

A tree weakened by one storm often will not survive the next. Insurance companies may also be more likely to cover preventative removals shortly after the event, rather than after secondary damage has occurred.

More importantly, the longer you wait, the more danger your property and loved ones may face. Do not wait until a limb falls on your roof or a tree blocks your driveway. Preventive action is the safest and most cost-effective choice.

Why Brantley Tree Service Is the Right Call

Brantley Tree Service is more than just a chainsaw and a truck. We are a fully insured, family-owned company with the right tools and expertise to handle North Carolina’s most difficult and high-risk tree removal jobs. Our services include:

• 100-foot bucket trucks for safe removals in tight or elevated areas

• Professional clearance near power lines, structures, and fencing

• Emergency storm cleanup and debris removal

• Certified arborist inspections for structural integrity

• Detailed planning to protect your home, roof, and landscape

Whether it is a fallen pine across your yard, a leaning oak near your home, or a split trunk threatening your fence, Brantley Tree has the experience and gear to do the job safely and quickly.

Ready for a Post-Storm Inspection? Quotes Are Always Free.

Do not risk your safety, your roof, or your peace of mind. Let the professionals at Brantley Tree Service inspect and remove storm-damaged trees before the next wave of weather arrives.

Call us today to schedule a free post-storm inspection or emergency removal quote. We serve homeowners throughout Jefferson NC, The Blue Ridge, Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Mount Airy, Lewisville, Yadkin County, and other nearby North Carolina communities.

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Let’s make sure your property is safe, sound, and ready for whatever the season brings.