What to Do After Storm Damage to Your Trees in Las Vegas

Las Vegas may be known for sunshine, but when storms roll through the valley they can be severe. Monsoon season brings intense microbursts, high winds, and sudden downpours that snap branches, uproot trees, and send debris crashing onto roofs, fences, and power lines. Even outside monsoon season, Clark County experiences powerful wind events topping 60 miles per hour with little warning.

If you have woken up to a damaged tree in your yard — or watched one come apart during a storm — you are not alone. Storm-related tree damage is one of the most common emergency calls we receive at Benjamin's Tree Service. After more than two decades serving Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, and surrounding Clark County communities, our ISA Certified Arborists have handled every storm scenario imaginable.

This guide walks you through what to do after storm damage, when to handle things yourself, and when to call a professional.

> Quick Summary

> - Stay away from any tree near downed power lines — call NV Energy (702-402-5555) immediately

> - Do not attempt to remove large hanging branches or leaning trunks yourself

> - Document all damage with photos before cleanup for insurance purposes

> - A certified arborist can assess whether a storm-damaged tree can be saved or needs removal

> - Benjamin's Tree Service offers 24/7 emergency tree service — call (725) 227-6160

Step 1: Prioritize Safety Above Everything

The first minutes after a storm are the most dangerous. Adrenaline is high, neighbors are outside surveying damage, and it is tempting to grab a chainsaw and start clearing debris. Resist that urge until you complete a basic safety check.

Watch for Downed Power Lines

This is the number one hazard after any Las Vegas storm. A tree branch resting on a power line — or a trunk that has fallen across one — can carry lethal voltage through the wood, the ground, and anything touching it.

What to do:

- Stay at least 35 feet away from any downed line or any tree touching one

- Call NV Energy at (702) 402-5555 to report the downed line

- Do not touch the tree, the line, or any standing water nearby

- Keep children and pets indoors until the utility confirms the line is de-energized

Even if a line looks dead, it can be re-energized remotely at any time. Never assume a downed line is safe.

Check for Structural Hazards

Walk around your property from a safe distance and look for:

- Hanging branches (widow makers) that could fall without warning

- Leaning trunks held up only by a neighboring tree or structure

- Cracked major limbs still attached at a steep angle

- Root plate lifting — soil heaving on one side of the tree base, indicating partial root failure

If any of these conditions exist near your home, vehicle, or walkways, keep everyone away until a professional arborist evaluates the situation.

Step 2: Document the Damage for Insurance

Before you move a single branch, take photos and video. This step is critical for insurance claims and is one Las Vegas homeowners often skip in the rush to clean up.

What to photograph:

- Wide shots showing the full tree and where it fell

- Close-ups of the break point on the trunk or branch

- Damage to structures: roof, fence, patio cover, vehicle

- The base of the tree showing root condition

- Utility line involvement (from a safe distance)

Most homeowner insurance policies in Nevada cover damage caused by a tree falling on a structure or vehicle. If the tree fell without damaging anything, coverage varies by policy. A tree assessment report completed before a storm can further support your claim by showing the tree was properly maintained.

Step 3: Assess the Damage Level

Not all storm damage means a tree needs to come down. Trees are remarkably resilient, and many recover from significant damage with proper care.

Minor Damage — Often Recoverable

Small branches under 3 inches broken off, leaf debris around the base, or minor bark scraping from blown objects. Minor damage usually requires only cleanup pruning. Any cuts on the tree itself should follow proper trimming and pruning techniques to avoid creating entry points for disease.

Moderate Damage — Professional Assessment Needed

Major branches over 3 inches broken or hanging, a significant portion of the crown lost on one side, bark stripped from the trunk, or visible cracks in major branch unions. An ISA Certified Arborist can determine whether corrective pruning and cabling can save the tree or whether structural integrity is compromised beyond recovery.

Severe Damage — Emergency Service Required

Trunk split vertically, tree leaning at a new angle with root plate lifting, more than 50 percent of crown destroyed, tree resting on a structure or power line. Severe damage requires emergency tree service. A partially failed tree is unpredictable and can shift or collapse without warning.

Step 4: Know What You Can Handle Safely

Safe for DIY

- Picking up fallen branches and debris from the ground

- Raking scattered leaves and small twigs

- Pruning broken branches under 2 inches that you can reach from the ground

Call a Professional For

- Any branch requiring a ladder (ladder plus chainsaw is extremely dangerous)

- Branches over 3 inches still attached to the tree

- Working near or under hanging branches

- Removing a leaning or partially uprooted tree

- Any work within 35 feet of a power line

- Cutting tension-loaded wood (it can snap unpredictably)

At Benjamin's Tree Service, our ISA Certified Arborists (ISA Cert. WE-15785A) are trained for exactly these situations. We carry full insurance, use professional rigging systems, and follow ANSI Z133 safety standards.

Step 5: Call an ISA Certified Arborist

If your tree has moderate or severe damage, call a certified arborist — not a general landscaper or handyman with a chainsaw. ISA Certified Arborists have passed rigorous exams on tree biology, diagnosis, and safety. They understand how storm damage affects internal structure that is invisible from outside and know whether a cracked trunk will hold for years or fail in the next breeze.

When you call Benjamin's Tree Service for storm damage:

1. Rapid response: We offer 24/7 emergency tree service and prioritize active safety hazards

2. On-site assessment: Our arborist evaluates structure, root stability, and remaining crown

3. Honest recommendation: If the tree can be saved, we design a recovery plan. If not, we explain why and provide a tree removal quote

4. Safe execution: Every job follows industry safety standards

Common Storm Damage Scenarios in Las Vegas

Monsoon Microbursts

Monsoon season — roughly June through September — brings the most violent weather to the valley. Microbursts produce straight-line winds exceeding 80 mph in a localized area, commonly causing crown blowout, complete uprooting in sandy or caliche-limited soils, and large limbs thrown into structures. Henderson, Green Valley, and Summerlin neighborhoods with mature trees are particularly susceptible.

High Wind Events

Clark County experiences high wind events year-round, especially in spring. The National Weather Service regularly issues wind advisories for gusts between 50 and 70 mph. These cause branch failures at weak unions, one-sided crown damage on exposed trees, and failure of previously weakened branches.

Protecting Your Trees Before the Next Storm

The best defense against storm damage is proactive tree care.

Regular pruning: Crown thinning allows wind to pass through the canopy instead of catching it like a sail. We recommend annual or biannual trimming and pruning for mature trees in the Las Vegas area.

Structural assessment: An arborist can identify weak points — included bark, co-dominant stems, internal decay — long before a storm exploits them. A professional tree assessment report gives you a clear picture of risk.

Proper watering: Trees in Las Vegas often develop shallow root systems due to caliche hardpan and infrequent deep watering. Deep, infrequent watering encourages roots to grow down and out, providing better anchorage during wind events.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can you respond to storm damage in Las Vegas?

Benjamin's Tree Service offers 24/7 emergency response across the Las Vegas Valley, including Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, and all of Clark County. For active hazards, we prioritize same-day response.

Can a storm-damaged tree be saved?

Many trees recover with proper corrective pruning. The key factors are how much crown remains, whether the trunk is structurally sound, and whether the root system is intact. Our arborists will give you an honest recommendation.

Is it safe to remove a hanging branch myself?

We strongly advise against it. Hanging branches are under tension and swing unpredictably when cut. Combined with working at height, this is one of the most common causes of serious injury in residential tree work.

What is the most common cause of tree failure during Las Vegas storms?

Poor branch structure — particularly included bark at branch unions — is the leading cause. Trees with co-dominant stems or heavy one-sided growth are especially vulnerable. Regular structural pruning reduces this risk significantly.

Call Benjamin's Tree Service — Las Vegas Storm Damage Experts

When a storm damages your trees, you need a team with the experience, equipment, and credentials to handle it safely. Benjamin's Tree Service has been the Las Vegas Valley's trusted tree care provider since 2001. Our ISA Certified Arborists (ISA Cert. WE-15785A) are fully licensed and insured in Nevada, 5-star rated on Google, and available 24/7 for emergencies.

Do not wait for a damaged tree to become a dangerous tree. Call us at (725) 227-6160 or visit benjaminstreeservice.com/contact to schedule an assessment today.