How do I know if a tree on my property is a storm hazard?

Warning signs include visible lean, especially after recent rain, cracks or splits in the trunk, large dead branches in the canopy, fungus growing near the base, or roots that have lifted the soil. A certified arborist can check for these and others you'd miss.

Does homeowners insurance ever require a tree risk assessment?

Some insurers will ask for documentation on large trees near a structure, especially after a claim or during underwriting. A written arborist report can help satisfy that request.

Is a hazard assessment the same as a regular tree health checkup?

They overlap but aren't identical. A health checkup looks at disease, pests, and overall vigor. A hazard or storm-risk assessment focuses specifically on structural failure risk in wind and ice.

Pre-storm tree risk assessment and hazard tree removal

This is different from a routine health checkup on your trees. A pre-storm or hazard assessment is specifically about identifying which trees are likely to fail in high wind or heavy ice, the kind of weather Westchester sees every fall and winter. An arborist looks for things like co-dominant stems, root plate heaving, cavities, deadwood in the canopy, and lean angle, then tells you which trees need bracing, crown reduction, or outright removal before the next storm rather than after.

Homeowners often ask for this after a neighbor's tree comes down, or before listing a house for sale, or when insurance flags a large tree near the roofline. It's a proactive call rather than a reactive one.

Ask whether the assessment includes a written report, which some insurers and real estate transactions want to see
Large trees leaning toward a house, garage, or power line are the usual priority
This is a good pairing with trimming or removal work scheduled for the same visit

What it costs

Assessments are generally priced separately from the removal or trim work that might follow, since you're paying for an arborist's evaluation time and judgment, not equipment time. If they find hazard trees, expect a follow-up quote for the actual removal, pruning, or cabling work.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for arborist & tree health services.

1. All American Tree Care
5.0★ · 169 reviews

93
2. Timberline Tree & Landscape Inc.
5.0★ · 222 reviews

91
3. SavATree
4.7★ · 200 reviews

89

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FAQ

How do I know if a tree on my property is a storm hazard?: Warning signs include visible lean, especially after recent rain, cracks or splits in the trunk, large dead branches in the canopy, fungus growing near the base, or roots that have lifted the soil. A certified arborist can check for these and others you'd miss.
Does homeowners insurance ever require a tree risk assessment?: Some insurers will ask for documentation on large trees near a structure, especially after a claim or during underwriting. A written arborist report can help satisfy that request.
Is a hazard assessment the same as a regular tree health checkup?: They overlap but aren't identical. A health checkup looks at disease, pests, and overall vigor. A hazard or storm-risk assessment focuses specifically on structural failure risk in wind and ice.

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