Storm Damage Tree Guide | Polk County FL

Assessing Storm Damage in Polk County

Start with safety. Look for lean, cracking, exposed roots, hanging limbs, and anything touching the home, fence, screen enclosure, shed, or driveway.

If the tree is unstable or access is blocked, treat the situation as urgent. If the damage is limited to smaller limbs, the next step may be pruning and cleanup rather than full removal.

Signs the Tree May Be Dangerous

• A trunk split, cracked, or twisted after the storm
• Roots lifted from the ground or soil heaving around the base
• A new lean toward the home, driveway, fence, or walkway
• Large branches broken, suspended, or resting on other limbs
• Fresh trunk damage, bark separation, or visible cavities
• Any part of the tree touching a structure or utility area

Damage That May Not Require Removal

• Trees with minor branch damage limited to smaller limbs
• Trees with intact trunks and root systems
• Young trees that can recover from pruning
• Trees with limited wounds that can be reviewed before deciding
• Trees not posing immediate safety hazards

When to Ask for Emergency Help

Ask for urgent help if the tree is on the roof, blocking the driveway, leaning toward the house, or hanging over a place people still need to use.

Do not climb the tree, pull on cracked limbs, or cut overhead damage yourself. Storm-damaged trees often fail in ways that are hard to predict.

Common Emergency Situations

• Trees blocking roads or driveways
• Trees leaning against structures or power lines
• Hanging branches that could fall
• Trees with exposed root systems
• Trees showing signs of imminent failure

What To Do Right After the Storm

• Take photos before cleanup if the tree touched the home, fence, or another covered structure
• Keep people away from cracked trunks, hanging limbs, and exposed roots
• Do not park or walk under suspended branches
• Note whether the driveway, roof, fence, or screen enclosure is affected
• Only do small ground-level cleanup if there is no overhead risk

What To Include When You Ask for Help

• Your city, ZIP code, and whether the property is inside a gated community or rural access road
• Photos from far enough back to show the full tree, plus close photos of the damaged area
• Whether the tree touched the roof, driveway, fence, pool screen, vehicle, shed, or utility area
• Whether you need full removal, limb cleanup, haul-off, stump grinding, or a safety review first

Polk County Storm Resources

For countywide storm-related assistance, contact Polk County Emergency Management at (863) 534-4880.

If the problem is specifically tree damage on your property, include photos, your ZIP code, and whether access is blocked when you ask for help.

Looking for immediate help? See emergency tree removal, review the permit guide, check service areas, or read how the request process works.

Frequently Asked Questions