Storm damage response — the North Shore checklist.

The first 60 minutes after a tree comes down matter more than almost anything else in the response. Safety, documentation, and the right sequence of phone calls are what turn a stressful hour into a smooth insurance claim and a clean site.

Here's the checklist we give every North Shore household that calls our after-hours line.

Step 1 — Secure the area

Stay at least two tree-lengths back from any fallen limb or downed tree. Keep pets and children inside. If the tree is on a structure (roof, pool fence, boundary wall) or on a vehicle, don't approach to inspect — the tree is rarely settled in the first hour and a shift can crush whatever's underneath.

Step 2 — Photograph the damage

Wide shots first (context) then close-ups (detail). Your insurer needs evidence of both the point of failure and the surrounding property damage. Timestamped where possible — most phones add this automatically.

The written arborist incident report we provide after make-safe is what insurers accept as formal documentation. Your photos back it up.

Step 3 — Call power first if relevant

If any part of the tree is tangled in power lines, contact Ausgrid before anyone else. Their line-disable procedure takes 10-30 minutes and is required before the arborist can safely work. Attempting to remove power-line-adjacent material yourself is the single most common cause of fatal tree-work injuries.

Step 4 — Call the after-hours arborist

Our 24/7 line answers in person — never an answering machine. We triage by severity:

1. Tree on a house (occupied): immediate priority
2. Tree on a vehicle or blocking driveway access: next priority
3. Downed limbs not on structures: scheduled as soon as possible

Typical response time under 60 minutes across the North Shore.

Step 5 — Lodge the insurance claim

You'll receive a written incident report from our crew within 24 hours of make-safe. Hand that to your insurer alongside your photos. Most AU home-and-contents policies cover storm-related tree damage to insured structures and vehicles; garden-only damage varies.

What we do on-site

When we arrive, the first 15 minutes is assessment — we don't touch the tree until we've walked the site and agreed a rigging plan with the property owner. Then:

• Stabilise the hazard. Roping, propping, or sectional release depending on the scenario.
• Clear access. Driveway, garage, pedestrian path — whichever is blocked gets priority.
• Complete the removal same visit where possible. Multi-day jobs (very large specimens) get interim stability with safety zones clearly marked.
• Full cleanup. Green waste mulched on-site or removed to green-waste recycling.
• Council notification evidence. We provide the photo pack and incident report council typically wants for the retrospective TPO notification; the notification itself is lodged by the property owner, usually within 14 days.

Common first-hour mistakes

• Trying to clear the tree yourself with a handsaw. Most residential chainsaws aren't sized for storm-fallen hardwood, and loaded stems are under pressure you can't see.
• Moving the tree to access the driveway before photography. Your insurer needs the original position for the claim.
• Waiting until morning for urgent hazards. A tree leaning on a roof in wet ground can shift overnight. Call immediately.

The goal of the first hour is preserving the evidence, keeping people safe, and getting the right professionals en route. Everything else follows.