Storm Tree Damage in Garland, TX: What to Do, Who to Call, and How to Prepare

Garland consistently sees some of the highest storm-damage call volume in Dallas County. The city's established neighborhoods are full of mature trees — and mature trees, while beautiful, carry more risk in severe weather than younger ones. A large limb failure or full tree failure in a storm can cause serious property damage and create dangerous conditions that need to be addressed quickly.

Here's what to do when it happens, and how to reduce the risk before it does.

Check for hazards first. Before you do anything else:

• Downed power lines: Stay 30+ feet back and call Oncor at 888-313-4747. Never approach a downed line.
• Gas leaks: If you smell gas, leave immediately and call Atmos Energy at 866-322-8667.
• Structural damage: If a tree hit your house, assess from outside. Don't go inside if you see significant roof damage or structural compromise.
• Hanging limbs: Large broken branches still in the canopy can fall without warning. Stay clear.

Document everything before cleanup. Take photos and video from multiple angles — the full tree, the point of failure, all affected structures. This is essential for insurance claims and should be done before anyone moves anything.

Call your insurance company. Get a claim number before authorizing major work. Key things to know:

• Damage to covered structures (house, garage, fence) is typically covered
• Tree removal from the yard with no structural damage is usually not covered
• A neighbor's tree that falls on your property is covered by your policy, not theirs (unless you can prove negligence)

Secure the area. Keep family and pets away from the damage zone. Cover roof damage with a tarp if you can do so safely from the ground. Don't attempt to cut or move large sections of tree yourself — a tree under tension can spring unpredictably when cut.

After major storms, storm chasers flood Garland and the surrounding area. Some are legitimate out-of-town crews filling real demand. Many are not.

Watch for these red flags:

• Demanding cash payment before work starts
• No written estimate or contract
• Can't produce a certificate of insurance on the spot
• High-pressure tactics ("this price is only good right now")
• No verifiable local address or business history

Ask any crew before they start:

• Can you show me your certificate of insurance (liability AND workers' comp)?
• Are you licensed in Texas?
• Will you provide a written scope of work before starting?

Our 24/7 emergency service covers all of Garland. We're local, licensed, insured, and we'll give you a written estimate before we touch anything. For a full guide on what to look for when hiring, see how to choose a tree service in Dallas.

General ranges for emergency tree work:

The best time to deal with storm risk is before a storm, not after. Here's what proactive tree care looks like:

Annual inspection. Walk your property and look for dead branches, large cracks in trunks or major limbs, included bark (tight V-shaped branch unions), and any lean that seems new. These are the trees and limbs most likely to fail in a storm.

Crown thinning. A dense, unpruned canopy acts like a sail in high winds. Thinning reduces wind resistance and lowers the risk of whole-tree failure. This is one of the most effective storm-prep measures for Garland's large, mature trees.

Dead wood removal. Dead branches are the first things to come down in a storm. Removing them proactively eliminates the most predictable failure points.

Structural cabling. Trees with multiple trunks or weak branch unions can be stabilized with steel cables that limit how far a limb can move in wind. This is particularly useful for large, valuable trees that you want to preserve.

Stump removal. Stumps from previously removed trees can harbor pests and disease that weaken neighboring trees. Grinding them out eliminates that risk.

For a full storm preparation checklist, see our storm prep guide for Dallas trees.

Tree Crew serves all of Garland and Dallas County. Visit our Garland page for more about our services in your area, or call (972) 999-3627 — we answer 24/7 for storm emergencies.