We've been called out to some serious storm damage over the years. Trees through roofs, across driveways, tangled in power lines. Here's what you should do when it happens to you.
First Things First: Stay Back
After a big storm rolls through Orange, every instinct tells you to go outside and check the damage. Don't. Not up close, anyway.
Damaged trees are unpredictable. A branch that's half broken can release at any second. A leaning tree can go over without warning. Stay at least one and a half times the tree's height away and have a look from there.
Here's what to check for from a distance: anything touching or near power lines (stay eight metres away minimum and ring Essential Energy straight away), trees on or leaning against your house, trees blocking your driveway so ambos and firies can't get in, and big broken branches hanging in the canopy above where people walk.
Orange has cool winters and strong winds that can cause branch damage and tree instability. That means storm damage around Orange can hit hard — multiple trees down across suburbs like Bloomfield, Calare, Glenroi, Lucknow. Your safety comes first. Always.
Is It Actually an Emergency?
Not every bit of storm damage needs an immediate call-out. Here's how we think about it:
Call us now if: a tree's on a building, something's blocking essential access, power lines are involved, or a tree is visibly still moving and could come down any moment. These are same-day jobs.
Can wait a day or two: branches that have fallen into the garden away from anything important, limbs that have broken off cleanly and are just lying on the ground, trees with some canopy damage but still standing solid. We'll get to these within 48 hours after a major event.
Either way, take photos and video from a safe distance. Your insurer will want them, and they help us figure out what gear to bring before we arrive.
Insurance and Documentation Tips
Dealing with your insurance company after storm damage can be stressful, so getting the documentation right from the start saves a lot of headaches. Before anyone touches the fallen timber, photograph everything — the tree, the damage to your property, any debris on neighbouring land. Video is even better.
Most home and contents policies in Australia cover storm damage, including the cost of removing fallen trees from structures. However, many policies won't cover removal of a tree that's simply fallen on the ground without hitting anything. Read your Product Disclosure Statement carefully, or call your insurer before authorising any work.
We provide detailed invoices that break down removal costs, make-safe work, and debris disposal separately — exactly the format insurers want. We've worked with every major insurer operating in the Central Tablelands region and we're happy to liaise with your claims team directly. That takes the pressure off you while we get the site sorted.
Getting Through to Us After a Big Storm
After a severe weather event hits the Central Tablelands region, our phones ring non-stop. The earlier you call, the sooner we can get to you.
When you ring, tell us the key details: is anyone in danger? Are power lines involved? Is your house damaged? That lets us prioritise properly — life-threatening situations first, then property damage, then general cleanup.
We roll out with everything we need: heavy-duty saws, rigging gear, crane access for big fallen trees, and chippers to process debris quickly. We do the insurance paperwork too and can deal with your insurer directly if that makes things easier. After years of working storm events across Orange, we know how to move through a big job list efficiently without cutting corners.
Once the immediate danger is dealt with, we'll also advise you on any remaining trees that may have been weakened by the storm. A tree that survived this event with internal cracks or a shifted root plate could fail in the next moderate blow. Getting those assessed early prevents a repeat emergency.