Storm damage cleanup
After the storm passes, the dangerous part is what's still up in the tree.
- Hangers removed first
- Broken tops cut clean
- Debris chipped and hauled
Erie gets storms from every direction: summer thunderstorms off the lake, November wind events, ice that coats every twig, and lake-effect bands that drop a foot of heavy snow overnight. All of it breaks branches, and plenty of the damage stays up in the canopy.
We start with the parts that can still fall: hanging limbs, cracked leaders and snapped tops. Then the broken stubs are cut back properly so the tree can recover, and the debris is cleared. If the damage is too much for the tree to survive, we'll recommend removal. For trees already on a structure, see emergency service.
Branches hanging after the storm?
Don't walk under them. Call and describe what you see.
Storm work we do
Damage ranges from a few broken branches to a tree that's lost half its crown.
Hanger removal
Broken limbs caught in the canopy cut down before they drop on someone.
Broken top cleanup
Snapped tops and split leaders cut back to sound wood so decay doesn't move in.
Ground debris cleanup
Branches across the lawn, driveway and garden chipped or hauled.
Post-storm inspection
A look at the trees that are still standing, so you know whether any were weakened.
How Erie weather breaks trees
Ice and wet snow
Heavy loads on every branch. Silver maples, Bradford pears and other weak-wooded trees split at the forks.
Wind off the lake
Gusts snap tops and uproot shallow-rooted trees, especially when the ground is saturated.
Repeat damage
Trees that were hurt in one storm often fail in the next one if the wounds aren't dealt with.
Storm damage to look for
Check your trees from the ground after any big storm:
- Limbs hanging in the canopyLook up. Hangers are easy to miss and dangerous.
- Fresh cracks at a forkA split that wasn't there before means the union is failing.
- Torn bark down the trunkOften a sign a big limb ripped out.
- New lean or lifted soilThe roots may have let go on one side.
- Snapped topWhat's left needs a clean cut to recover, if it can.
Safety first. After a storm, look up before you walk under a tree. A broken limb resting in the branches can fall with no warning.
Why call us after a storm
Answered 24/7
Nights, weekends, holidays.
Hangers first
The dangerous overhead pieces come down before anyone works below them.
Trees assessed, not just cleared
We tell you which damaged trees can recover and which ones won't.
Erie-based crew
Office on West 21st Street.
