Priorities, in order
A tree has come down. In the first hour the order matters more than the speed.
Powerlines first. If any part of the tree is touching a line, or a line is on the ground, ring Ausgrid on 13 13 88 immediately and keep everyone at least eight metres away. Treat every downed line as live regardless of whether anything is arcing. No tree contractor may work on a live conductor, and nothing about a private quote changes that.
People next. If anyone is trapped or injured, or the building is structurally unsafe, ring 000. For storm damage where nobody is in immediate danger — a tree on a roof, water getting in — the SES on 132 500 is the right call.
Then keep clear. Stay out from under a limb resting on a roof, including inside the room beneath it. A partly failed tree holds stored tension in ways that are not obvious from the ground.
Photograph everything before anything moves
Insurers and assessors want to see the original state. Take wide shots showing the tree, where it came from and where it landed, then close shots of the failure point and of the damage. Photograph the base of the tree and any lifted soil. Do this before a crew arrives, because the first thing they will do is change the scene.
Then ring for the tree work
When you ring (02) 9090 4915, four pieces of information decide the response: the suburb and street, what has failed, what it landed on, and whether anyone is cut off or a line is involved.
Overnight work is about making the site safe rather than finishing the job — cutting a trunk clear of a driveway, rigging a limb off a roof, taking down a split leader that is going to move again. Climbing a damaged tree properly needs daylight, because a split union or a hung-up limb cannot be assessed by torchlight. Anyone who offers to climb a storm-damaged tree at 1am is taking a risk with somebody's life.
Why storm work costs more
Damaged timber is under tension, which makes it slower and more dangerous to dismantle than sound timber. Out-of-hours rates apply. And the crew is mobilising for one job instead of a planned day's run. The cost guide sets that out honestly. If the hazard can safely wait until morning, waiting is cheaper.
Afterwards
Once the immediate mess is gone, have the rest of the tree and its neighbours looked at. Most failures were preceded by something visible — see how to tell if a tree is dangerous. The emergency services page covers the callout process, and the blog has more.
Frequently asked questions
Should I move branches off the driveway myself?
Only if nothing is under load and no line is involved. A branch that looks loose can be holding the weight of everything above it, and cutting or dragging it releases that energy suddenly. If the tree is still standing and only part of it has failed, leave all of it alone — the remainder is the unpredictable part.
Will my insurer pay for the whole tree to be removed?
Usually they will cover making the property safe and repairing damage, but not removing the rest of a tree that did not fall. Policies differ considerably. Photograph everything before it is moved, ask for an itemised invoice separating make-safe from removal, and ring your insurer early rather than after the work is done.