Houston, TX
Storm damage tree removal in Houston
After a Houston storm, deal with trees on houses, cars and lines first, then hangers over walkways, then everything else. Trees blocking public streets and trees on the city right-of-way are the city's to clear (report them to 311). Trees on your property are yours. The city often runs separate storm-debris collection for cut vegetation placed at the curb.
Reviewed and updated
What Houston storms do to trees
Houston's two recent benchmark events hit differently. The May 2024 derecho brought short, violent gusts that snapped trunks and blew out windows downtown. Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 brought hours of wind on soil already soaked by rain, so whole trees uprooted, many of them large water oaks and pines, and more than two million customers lost power. After an uprooting storm, trees that are still standing but tilted, with soil lifted on one side, need attention quickly: their anchorage is compromised.
Sorting Houston storm damage: who handles what, and how fast
Tree on the house, a car or a power line
- Who to call
- 911 if anyone is hurt; CenterPoint for lines; then a tree service
- Urgency
- Immediate
Tree across a public street
- Who to call
- The City of Houston, not a private company
- Urgency
- Report right away
Broken limbs hanging over a walkway or roof
- Who to call
- A tree service
- Urgency
- Within days
Water oak or pine leaning since the storm
- Who to call
- A tree service or arborist
- Urgency
- Within days; keep people out of reach
Branches down in the yard, trees intact
- Who to call
- You, or city debris pickup if it's running
- Urgency
- When crews are less stretched
City debris pickup or a tree company?
After major storms, the City of Houston typically announces storm-debris collection for vegetative debris placed at the curb, separate from household trash. Cutting a tree off your house or out of your backyard is still a private job, but you may save hauling costs by having the crew cut and stack debris at the curb instead of hauling it. Check the city's announcements for the event before you agree on a price.
- Keep debris out of the street and away from storm drains, fire hydrants, mailboxes and meters.
- Separate vegetation from construction debris like shingles and fencing.
- Right-of-way trees (between the sidewalk and street) need city permission to remove. Report hazards instead.
Water oaks after a storm: the follow-up inspection
Houston's water oaks often survive a storm with broken tops or torn limbs, and that's when trouble starts. Large wounds on an aging water oak expose wood that's often already decaying, and the tree can fail in the next storm rather than this one.
Have damaged water oaks near the house looked at within a few weeks, once emergency work has calmed down. A tree with a broken leader, a cracked fork or decay showing in the broken wood is usually better removed before the next hurricane season than restored.
Hiring a crew after a Houston storm
Out-of-town crews arrive within days of a big Houston storm. Ask for a written quote, a certificate of insurance sent from the insurer, and a local contact. Avoid anyone asking for full payment up front or to sign over your insurance benefits at the door. Texas's Department of Insurance publishes post-storm consumer guidance worth reading before you sign.
When a neighbor's tree lands in your yard
After a storm, the common rule is that each owner's insurance handles damage to their own property, regardless of whose tree it was. That changes when the tree was visibly dead or dangerous and the owner ignored it, which can make the owner responsible.
Photograph the tree and its stump before anything is cut up, and talk to your insurer before arguing with the neighbor. The guide to who pays when a tree falls walks through the usual outcomes.
Paperwork for insurance and disaster aid
- Keep photos from before the storm if you have them, plus photos of the damage before work starts.
- Ask for an invoice that separates removal from the house, debris hauling and stump work.
- In federally declared disasters, FEMA assistance may help with debris removal needed to make a home safe when insurance doesn't cover it; check DisasterAssistance.gov for your event.
- Keep every receipt for tarping, generators and other work done to prevent further damage.
Houston storm damage questions
Will the City of Houston pick up tree debris after a storm?
After major storms the city usually announces storm-debris collection for vegetation placed at the curb. Check the city's current announcements for the event, and keep debris out of the street and away from drains.
Who removes a fallen tree blocking my Houston street?
Report it to 311. Trees on the public right-of-way and blocking streets are handled by the city. A tree from your yard that's on your house or in your driveway is yours to remove.
My water oak is leaning after the storm. Is it an emergency?
If it wasn't leaning before and the soil is lifted or cracked on the opposite side, treat it as urgent. Keep people out of the area it could reach and get it assessed quickly.
Storm damage cleanup in Houston
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.