Tree Down After a Storm in Shreveport–Bossier? What to Do First

Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.

Red River Tree Removal connects Shreveport–Bossier homeowners with local tree pros. We're not a tree company. Request a free quote.

Short answer: get everyone away from the tree, call 911 if anyone is hurt or you smell gas, and treat every downed wire as live. Report a tree on a power line to your utility (SWEPCO's 24-hour hazard line is 888-218-3919). Then photograph the damage, call your insurance company before you sign any contract, and get a licensed tree service to remove the tree.

1. Get out and stay clear

A fallen tree is not done moving. Clayton Allen, co-owner of Shreveport's All About Trees, told KSLA that if a tree falls on your house you should get out first, because fallen trees settle and keep falling, and power lines may be tangled in it (KSLA, March 2025).

• Get everyone out of rooms under or near the impact.
• Call 911 if anyone is injured, there's a fire, or you suspect a gas leak (Amica).
• Don't climb on the tree or the roof to "take a look."
• Don't go back into a damaged part of the house for belongings (AAA Club Alliance).

2. If a power line is involved, call the utility, not a tree crew

Never touch or go near a downed line, or a tree touching one. SWEPCO lists "trees that have fallen on power lines" as a safety hazard to report immediately (SWEPCO, Report Safety Hazard).

Sources: SWEPCO Contact; Entergy Louisiana Contact. Check your power bill if you're not sure which utility serves you.

Things to know about trees and lines:

• SWEPCO only trims or removes trees growing too close to the lines that run pole to pole. The line from the pole to your house (the "service drop") is the property owner's responsibility (SWEPCO, Report Tree Problem).
• For planned (non-emergency) work near your service drop, SWEPCO asks you to call 888-216-3523 at least two business days ahead so it can send a crew to temporarily disconnect the line.
• For a tree that's leaning toward or growing into pole-to-pole lines but hasn't fallen, use SWEPCO's Report Tree Problem form.
• In Louisiana, removing trees along utility rights-of-way for hire requires a separate Utility Arborist License (LDAF). A regular tree crew should not be cutting a tree off an energized line.

3. Document everything

Before anything is moved, take photos and video from a safe distance: wide shots of the whole scene and close-ups of each damaged area (Amica). List everything damaged: roof, siding, fence, car, belongings. Keep every receipt.

4. Call your insurance company before you sign anything

Wayne Watley of Watley Insurance Group told KSLA to call your carrier, preferably your agent, before you sign any contracts (KSLA). The Louisiana Department of Insurance gives the same advice and says that when a tree damages your insured house, the company will usually pay to remove the tree as well as repair the damage (LDI Post-Disaster Guide).

• Angi warns that removing the tree before your insurer has seen it can remove evidence the adjuster needs (Angi). If the tree is an immediate danger, tell your insurer and document it thoroughly first.
• The LDI says you should generally make temporary repairs to stop further damage (like a tarp, if you can do it safely) and hold off on permanent repairs until the adjuster has inspected.
• A car crushed in your garage is a separate claim: your homeowners policy covers the garage, and your auto policy covers the car only if you carry comprehensive coverage (LDI).

5. Hire a licensed tree service, and watch for storm chasers

After big storms, out-of-town crews show up fast. The LDI's advice for hiring after a disaster:

• Get bids from at least three sources.
• Don't hire anyone who can't show proof of insurance; ask for a certificate of insurance.
• Be wary of anyone who says your insurance company sent them (insurers usually don't recommend contractors) or who demands full payment before the work is done.

Also check the Louisiana Arborist License. Anyone who removes or trims trees for a fee in Louisiana needs one from the LDAF, and licensed arborists must give you a written contract that states the work and the price (LDAF). The LDAF publishes a list of licensed arborists.

6. Trees in the street, and storm debris

• A tree from your yard falls into the street (Shreveport): Shreveport Public Works told KSLA the city will cut the tree back to the private property line, usually the sidewalk, to keep traffic moving. Anything past that is usually the property owner's job.
• Who hauls the debris: if you remove the tree yourself, the city will pick up the debris; if a contractor removes it, the contractor picks it up (Shreveport Public Works, via KSLA). Shreveport's bulky pickup takes limbs up to 8 inches across and 6 feet long, not stumps or roots, and not debris generated by contractors (City of Shreveport).
• Bossier City: cut limbs to 6 feet or less, 8 inches or less across, 65 pounds or less each, stacked neatly at the curb (up to 15 feet long by 4 feet high); call Solid Waste ahead for large amounts (Bossier City, Yard Waste). After major storms, watch for city announcements: after the June 2023 storm, both Shreveport and Bossier City ran storm-debris collection (KSLA, July 2023).

What emergency removal costs

Expect to pay more than for a scheduled removal. PermitDeck estimates emergency tree removal in Shreveport at about $1,794–$3,036 and says emergency work typically costs 50–100% more (PermitDeck). HomeGuide says same-day or next-day removal often runs 2 to 3 times the standard rate (HomeGuide). If the tree damaged your house, insurance often covers removal. See the full Shreveport tree removal cost guide.

Get a local tree pro on the way

Red River Tree Removal is a referral service, not a tree company, and we don't send crews ourselves. Once everyone is safe and any power line has been reported to the utility, send us your request and we'll pass it to a local tree service in the Shreveport–Bossier area. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.

If the tree was your neighbor's, read who pays when a neighbor's tree falls on your house in Louisiana.