Storm-Ready Tree Checklist
A one-page checklist to get your trees and yard ready for nor'easters and hurricane season on Cape Cod, from a local, family-owned tree service.
Get ahead of the next nor’easter
Most storm damage we clean up on the Cape starts with a problem that was visible weeks earlier: a dead limb over the roof, a split trunk, a pitch pine that was already failing. A short walk around your property before the season can catch most of them.
This checklist covers what to look for in the fall, what to do when a storm is forecast, and how to stay safe afterward. Download the printable version and keep it with your storm supplies.
What to check this fall
- Dead or broken branches, especially over the roof, deck, driveway, or where you park
- Cracks or splits in the trunk, or a split where two main stems meet
- A tree that has started to lean, or soil that is cracked or lifting at the base
- Mushrooms, soft wood, or hollow spots near the base of the trunk
- Pitch pines with browning needles or small blobs of resin on the bark, a possible sign of southern pine beetle
- Branches rubbing the roof or siding
- Gutters packed with pine needles and leaves
Branches near power lines are a job for the utility. Never trim near a wire yourself.
Before and after the storm
When a storm is forecast
- Move cars out from under large trees
- Bring in or tie down patio furniture, grills, and trash barrels
- Charge your phones and save two numbers: Tree Busters (774) 810-2864 and Eversource 1-800-592-2000
- Seasonal home? Ask a neighbor or caretaker to check the property after the storm
After the storm passes
- Stay far back from any downed wire. Treat every wire as live and call 911 and Eversource
- Do not climb on the roof or start cutting. Storm-bent trees and limbs can spring back with force
- Take photos of any damage before anything is moved, for your insurance company
- Call us for trees on the house, a blocked driveway, or limbs hanging overhead
Found something on the checklist?
If your walk-around turned up dead wood, a cracked trunk, or a tree leaning toward the house, that is the time to call, before the wind does the job for you. We can trim and prune problem limbs, handle tree removal for trees that cannot be saved, and clean out the gutters on the same visit.
For more detail, read our guide to preparing your trees for nor’easter season. When a tree is already down, our emergency tree service runs 24/7.
Get your estimate
Tell us what is going on and we will get back to you quickly. We can usually give you an estimate the same day and start within two weeks. For an emergency, call us now.
