The short answer
When is storm season in the Redlands?
The Bureau of Meteorology says Queensland’s severe weather season runs from October to April, and that from October to December the east coast, including southern Queensland, has the highest risk of severe thunderstorms. Energex calls it the summer storm season. So the weeks around now are when severe thunderstorms are most likely.
Worried about a particular tree before the next storm? Ask for a free quote and we will look at it. Some trees in Redland City need approval before work, so see our council tree rules guide first.
What to do first
- Stay inside until the storm has passed. Get Ready Queensland says to stay inside, away from windows and doors, until the storm has fully passed. The Electrical Safety Office adds: stay away from powerlines, trees and watercourses.
- Keep clear of fallen trees. The SES says: “Stay away from any fallen trees and/or power lines.”
- Treat every powerline as live. If a line is down, stay at least 10 metres away, report it straight away on 000 or Energex on 13 19 62, and wait for Energex. Never cut a tree that is on or near a line. Energex says never to try it yourself.
- Call for help. Use the table below to pick the right number.
- Tell the SES about hazards such as powerlines when you lodge a request.
- Call your insurer about permanent repairs. The SES can make a home safe for the time being, but for permanent repairs its advice is to contact your insurer or a private contractor.
- Call a tree crew once it is safe and no powerlines are involved.
Who to call
Swipe sideways to see every column →
| Situation | Who to call | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone in danger, or a powerline is down | Triple Zero | 000 |
| Fallen powerlines, or shocks and tingles (24/7) | Energex emergency line | 13 19 62 |
| Power outage (24/7) | Energex | 13 62 62 |
| Storm damage that is not life-threatening, such as a tree on your house or blocking your access | Queensland SES | 132 500 |
| A tree on a footpath or council land | Redland City Council | (07) 3829 8999 |
| Permanent repairs to the house | Your insurer | On your policy |
| A tree on your land that is safe to reach, with no powerlines involved | Tree Problem No Problem (24/7 emergency call-outs) | 0431 732 028 |
You can also reach the SES through 132500.qld.gov.au or the SES Assistance QLD app. The SES warns that wait times can be long in big events.
When to call a tree crew
Call a crew when everyone is safe and no powerline is involved, and:
- a tree or a big limb has come down across your yard or driveway
- a tree is lying on a fence, shed or carport
- a limb has broken and is still hanging in the tree
- a tree has split or is leaning after the storm
Our emergency call-outs include storms and trees on power lines. If a line is down or touching the tree, call 000 or Energex first and stay 10 metres back. Our hours are 7:30 am to 7 pm, 7 days, we take emergency calls any time, and same-day service is available.
The crew works with a truck-mounted elevated work platform, a crane truck and a wood chipper, so a big tree can be taken down in sections. Green waste is taken away unless you ask otherwise. See emergency tree services in the Redlands for the full service.
Cyclone Alfred and the Redlands
Redland City Council says ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred crossed Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island as a Category 1 cyclone at about 11:30 pm on 7 March 2025 and was a tropical low by 6:45 am on 8 March. Trees came down on the mainland and on Russell Island, some of them on powerlines, and in its one-year-on update (March 2026) Council said removal was still going in some areas. On 7 March 2025 its notice to residents was to stay well clear of fallen powerlines and report them to Triple Zero.
Some people got ahead of it. One customer asked us to take a palm down before the cyclone arrived:
“Had Andrew & his team turn up on short notice (within an 1hr) for a Palm that I wanted cut down before Cyclone Alfred arrived.” Tamara R., Google review, March 2025. “Andrew showed up & had the tree down in no time.”
Council trees, and do you need approval?
For a fallen tree on council land or a footpath, call Redland City Council on (07) 3829 8999 or use its online request. We could not find an after-hours number for tree problems on Council’s tree page, so if there is danger, call 000.
For a damaged tree on your own land that has not come down yet, Council says approval is generally needed to remove unsafe vegetation unless there is an imminent risk of serious personal injury or damage to infrastructure, and it recommends taking photos of the tree and the surroundings as evidence. Read the Redland City Council tree rules.
What storm damage tree removal costs
Published Brisbane-area guides put an emergency or storm job at about $500 to $5,000 (What’s The Damage), and crane-assisted removal of a tree on a house at about $3,000 to $12,000 (What’s The Damage). Yakka Labour says urgent work can cost 1.5 to 2 times the usual price. These are published ranges, not Tree Problem No Problem’s prices. Every quote is free. See how much tree removal costs.
Questions
Who do I call if a tree falls on my house?
If anyone is in danger, call 000. If it is not life-threatening, call the SES on 132 500. If powerlines are involved, call 000 or Energex on 13 19 62 first. For permanent repairs, contact your insurer.
What do I do if a tree is on a powerline?
Stay at least 10 metres away, assume the line is live and call 000 or Energex on 13 19 62. Do not touch the tree or try to cut it. Wait for Energex.
Can I cut up a fallen tree myself?
Not if a powerline could be involved: the SES says to stay away from fallen trees and power lines, and Energex says never to try it yourself. For a big tree, or anything over a house or fence, call a crew. See the dangers of DIY tree removal.
Do you do emergency call-outs?
Yes, 24/7, including storms and trees on power lines. Call 0431 732 028 and tell us what has happened and whether any powerlines are involved. Same-day service is available.
Do I need council approval to remove a storm-damaged tree?
It depends on the property. Council allows removal where there is an imminent risk of serious personal injury or damage to infrastructure, and recommends photos as evidence. We tell you at the quote if approval is needed and can handle it.
What happens to the tree afterwards?
It is cut up and the green waste is taken away unless you ask otherwise.
Sources
- Bureau of Meteorology, Now is the time to Get Ready Queensland (issued 14 October 2026).
- Queensland SES, SES assistance (updated 2 December 2025), and the Contact SES 132 500 flyer (April 2022).
- Get Ready Queensland, Storms (last updated September 2026).
- Energex, Report fallen powerlines, Contact us, Keeping safe in severe weather and Trees and powerlines.
- Electrical Safety Office Queensland, Electrical safety during storms.
- Redland City Council (Redlands Coast Today), One year on: resilience, recovery and moving forward (6 March 2026) and Stay clear of powerlines brought down by Tropical Cyclone Alfred (7 March 2025).
- Redland City Council, Council trees and Trees on private property.
- What’s The Damage, Tree removal cost Brisbane (updated October 2026), and Yakka Labour, Tree removal cost Australia 2026 (published 1 October 2026).
Also: tree removal cost, tree removal and how to choose a tree service.
