Tree down after a storm in Tallahassee: what to do first

Short answer: stay away from any wires and call your electric utility, take photos before anything moves, call your insurer if the tree hit a structure, then get a written quote that includes hauling the debris away. The details below come from the City, Leon County, Talquin Electric, the State of Florida, the Insurance Information Institute and the CDC.

Tallahassee Tree Match is a free matching service, not a tree company, an insurer or a government office. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and the current City or County announcements decide your case.

If anyone is hurt, a tree is on a power line, or the house is unsafe, leave the area and call 911. Treat every downed line as live.

1. Wires first: who to call

A tree tangled in a line can stay energized even when your power is out. Do not touch the tree, and do not let anyone cut it until the utility says the line is safe.

Your electric provider	Report a downed line or outage
City of Tallahassee Utilities	850-891-4968 (24/7; TDD 711), online at talgov.com/outage, or the DigiTally app
Talquin Electric Cooperative	1-844-825-7846 (automated) or 1-888-802-1832 (live operator); text #OUTAGE to 85700 if registered
Someone else	Use the outage number on your bill

Sources: City of Tallahassee Utilities contacts, City outage reporting, Talquin Outage Center.

If the tree pulled the line off your house (City customers)

The City says it is responsible for the service wire to your house and the meter, but the homeowner is responsible for equipment attached to the house, such as the weatherhead, the mast above the meter and the meter box. In most cases a City crew removes the meter or rolls the service wire back to the pole. You then hire a licensed electrician, who pulls a permit with Growth Management. After it passes inspection, call Growth Management at 850-891-1800 and the City reconnects you. (City: How power is restored)

So when a tree takes down your service line, you may need two pros: a tree service to remove the tree and an electrician to repair the mast or meter box. Ask the tree service whether it will work around the electrician’s schedule.

2. Photograph everything before it moves

Insurers usually want proof of the loss. Before any limb is cut or hauled, take wide and close photos of the tree, the stump or root ball, and every damaged roof section, fence, car or window. Maryland’s insurance regulator gives the same advice, and notes that if a government crew removes debris you may be asked to sign a right-of-entry form. (Maryland Insurance Administration: Fallen tree) Keep every quote, invoice and receipt.

3. What homeowners insurance usually covers

Every policy is different, so read yours or call your agent. As a general guide, the Insurance Information Institute says:

Tree hits your house or another insured structure (a detached garage, a fence): a standard policy generally covers the damage to the structure and its contents, for trees felled by wind, lightning or hail.
Removing that tree is generally covered too, usually up to about $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer and policy.
Tree falls in the yard and hits nothing insured: there is generally no coverage for removal, though some insurers pay if it blocks a driveway or an accessibility ramp.
It was the neighbor’s tree: you still claim on your own policy. Your insurer may then try to recover from the neighbor’s insurer, which can get your deductible back.

Removal limits are small next to what a large Tallahassee pine or oak can cost to take off a roof, so ask your adjuster what the policy will pay before you sign a quote. For typical prices, see our Tallahassee tree removal cost guide. Damage to a car is a matter for your auto policy, not your homeowners policy. (Maryland Insurance Administration)

4. Do you need a permit?

Usually not for clearing a tree that is already down, but check before taking down a damaged tree that is still standing.

Inside city limits, the code exempts removals during or after an emergency or act of nature when the Growth Management director decides permitting would slow recovery. That is the City’s call, not an automatic pass.
A damaged tree that is still standing at a single-family detached home can come down without any local permit, fee or replanting if an ISA-certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect signs an on-site assessment showing an unacceptable risk (Fla. Stat. 163.045). Get the assessment before it comes down.
Unincorporated Leon County rules are site-specific. The Environmental Service Advisor is at (850) 606-1300.

Full details and official links: Tallahassee and Leon County tree permit guide.

5. Hiring a tree service after a storm

Storms bring out-of-town crews and door-knockers. The Florida Attorney General’s office advises getting cleanup estimates in writing, checking licensing and insurance with the city or county, and being wary of anyone who solicits door to door, quotes extremely low prices, or demands a large upfront payment with no start date. Don’t let anyone rush you. (Florida Attorney General: price gouging FAQ)

A short checklist for the quote:

Proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Ask for the certificate and call the insurer listed on it.
A business tax receipt. During a declared emergency, Florida law makes it a misdemeanor to sell goods or services to the public without one (Fla. Stat. 501.160(8)).
What is included: taking the tree off the roof, cutting, hauling away the logs and brush, stump grinding, and any emergency tarping.
Payment terms in writing, with no large deposit before work starts.
Who handles the insurance paperwork, if anyone. You decide what you sign.

Higher prices vs price gouging

Emergency work often costs more: HomeGuide says same-day or next-day storm jobs often run 2 to 3 times normal rates. Florida’s price gouging law applies only during a state of emergency declared by the Governor. It presumes a price is unconscionable when it is grossly higher than the average price in the 30 days before the declaration, unless the seller can show higher costs or market trends. To report it, call the Attorney General’s hotline at 1-866-966-7226 and keep estimates, invoices and photos. (Fla. Stat. 501.160; Attorney General FAQ; HomeGuide)

6. Storm debris: what the City and County pick up

Inside city limits

After a named storm, put only storm-related debris at the curb, without blocking the road or storm drains. Debris left behind the sidewalk, on the property side, will not be picked up. If there is no sidewalk, put it at the edge of your property before the curb.
Keep vegetative debris (logs, limbs, leaves) loose and unbagged, because it is ground into mulch. Keep it separate from construction debris, appliances and household trash.
During storm recovery the City says there is no size limit and no set schedule, but all piles will be collected.
Do not stack debris against trees, poles, hydrants or meters, or under low wires.
Debris from a tree service company must be removed by that company. If you hire a pro, make sure haul-away is in the quote.

Outside storm recovery, normal yard-waste pickup is every other week (Red or Blue week): limbs under 6 feet long and 4 inches thick, in piles no larger than 6 x 4 x 4 feet. Bigger limbs need a special pickup request. (City: Storm clean-up, separating your debris; City: How to sort storm debris; City: yard waste; City solid waste guide)

Unincorporated Leon County

After recent storms the County ran curbside passes for vegetative storm debris on public and private roads. After Hurricane Helene in 2024, for example, the first pass started October 5 and the second ran October 12 to 20. Debris goes between the sidewalk or property line and the curb, loose and unbagged. Watch the County’s Emergency Information Portal (LeonCountyFL.gov/ei) for dates, and call 850-606-1500 with debris questions. (Tallahassee Democrat, Sept. 30, 2024; WTXL, County release after Hurricane Debby)

Any time of year, unincorporated residents may bring one free pickup-truck load of yard debris per day to a Rural Waste Service Center (Woodville, Fort Braden, Miccosukee; open Fri–Sun) or the Solid Waste Facility at 7550 Apalachee Pkwy. Bring ID showing your address. Tree companies cannot use these centers, even for your debris. (Leon County: Rural Waste Service Centers)

7. If you cut it yourself

The CDC says about 36,000 people a year are treated in emergency rooms for chain saw injuries, and the risk rises after storms. Its advice:

Leave felling and big limbs to a trained, experienced operator when you can.
Wear a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy gloves, chain saw chaps and boots that cover the ankle.
Stay away from power lines until they are confirmed dead. Cut at waist level or below.
Keep others at least 30 feet from anyone cutting limbs or a fallen tree, and at least 2 tree lengths (150 feet or more) from anyone felling a tree.
Watch for bent or trapped limbs under tension (“spring poles”). Even a 2-inch branch can cause serious injury when released. Shave the underside slowly instead of cutting straight through.

Source: CDC: Chain saw safety after a disaster.

A tree resting on a roof, a car or another tree is a job for a professional.

Questions

Who do I call if a tree is on a power line in Tallahassee?

Stay well back and call 911 if anyone is in danger. Then call your electric utility: City of Tallahassee Utilities at 850-891-4968 (24/7), or Talquin Electric at 1-844-825-7846 (automated) or 1-888-802-1832 (live operator). If another company serves you, use the number on your bill. Do not let a tree crew or anyone else cut near the line until the utility says it is safe.

Does homeowners insurance pay to remove a fallen tree?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, if the tree hits your house or another insured structure, a standard policy generally covers the damage and removal, usually up to about $500 to $1,000. If it only falls in the yard, removal is generally not covered, though some insurers pay if it blocks a driveway. Your own policy decides, so check it or call your agent.

My neighbor’s tree fell on my house. Whose insurance pays?

The Insurance Information Institute says you file with your own insurer no matter who owned the tree. Your insurer may then try to collect from the neighbor’s insurer, which can get your deductible back.

Do I need a permit to remove a storm-damaged tree in Tallahassee?

Sometimes. The City code lets the director waive permits after an emergency or act of nature, but that is a City decision. For a damaged tree that is still standing at a single-family home, a signed risk assessment from an ISA-certified arborist under Fla. Stat. 163.045 removes the need for a permit. See our permit guide for details.

Will the City or County haul away storm debris for free?

After a declared storm, the City and Leon County have run curbside collection for storm-related vegetative debris placed at the curb. But the City says debris made by a tree service company must be removed by that company, so make sure haul-away is in your quote.

Is it price gouging if a tree service doubles its rate after a hurricane?

Only during a declared state of emergency, and only if the price is unconscionable compared with the average price in the 30 days before the declaration, unless the business can show higher costs or market trends (Fla. Stat. 501.160). Emergency work often costs more. Get written quotes and report suspected gouging to the Attorney General at 1-866-966-7226.

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